War Anthem Records brings us the self-titled debut from Minotaur Head (great band name by the way), who are comprised of Bob Bagchus (ex-Asphyx, Soulburn, etc.) on drums, Rogga Johansson (Demiurg, Paganizer, Revolting) on guitars & vocals, Theo van Eekelen (Hail Of Bullets) on bass , and Ronnie Björnström on lead guitar. Wanting to take a different route than they normally do with their main bands, Minotaur Head are all about doom metal, listing their main influences for this new band as Black Sabbath, Trouble, Winter, and Cathedral. To these ears I also hear a little bit of Celtic Frost and Triptykon, mainly due to Johansson's vocals and the overall guitar tone, which is quite heavy throughout, the riffs pulverizing and the solos blistering, just like you'd expect from a doom album. While the production overall is a bit muddy, it doesn't hide the fact that there's some seriously devastating dirges going on here, like the grueling "A World Without Man", the Electric Wizard sounding "Realm of Filth", and the extreme fuzz of "Hidden Death in the Permawinter". The guitar & bass riffs throughout the albums are caked in fuzz, so if you love the mighty riff, there's plenty to sink your teeth into here, though I will say there is a pacing issue from track to track, as many of these songs follow a similar pattern & tone, but that's pretty common on many doom albums.
Overall, this is a new band who have delivered a solid opening statement, and I'm sure the doom world will be hearing plenty from Minotaur Head in the months and years to come.
Track Listing
1. Drowning Life
2. Hidden Death in the Permawinter
3. A Monument to Humanity
4. Only Lands for the Slaughter
5. A World Without Man
6. Mundane Treasures
7. Realm Of Filth
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