Finnish doom act Cardinals Folly return with their third release for Shadow Kingdom Records, titled Holocaust of Ecstasy & Freedom. The trio of Mikko Kaariainen (bass, vocals), Juho Kilpela (guitar), and Joni Takkunen (drums), unleash seven tracks of punishing doom here, chock full of fuzz toned guitar riffs, booming bass, pounding drums, and almost spoken word vocals. Honestly, Mikko's vocals are easily the weakest part of the Cardinals Folly repertoire, as he just lazily walks his way through these songs, occasionally dipping into a more gruff, near growl that works much better, but for the most part his style just doesn't have any personality, which is a shame. The songs however are heavy hitters, with tasty riffs aplenty throughout, as on "Goats on the Left", "Psychomania", and the lumbering "La Papesse". "Her Twins of Evil" (homage to the classic Hammer horror film perhaps?) is another crusher, fuzzy riffs cascading over ponderous rhythms, with an equally ominous vibe permeating the entire track.
Ultimately, I'd love to see Cardinals Folly with a dedicated lead singer, which I think would take this band to the next level. Despite that, Holocaust of Ecstasy & Freedom is a solid doom affair that any genre lover should enjoy.
Track Listing
1) The Poison Test
2) Goats on the Left
3) Her Twins of Evil
4) Nocturnal Zeal (Winter Orgy)
5) Holocaust of Ecstasy & Freedom
6) Psychomania
7) La Papesse
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