The Eldorado Spell is the latest album from Norway's proto-metal/psych/doom act Kryptograf, and follows their self-titled Apollon Records debut from 2020. Taking possible influences such as Black Sabbath, Blue Cheer, Steppenwolf, Wishbone Ash, and even a little Atomic Rooster and Deep Purple, these guys blend occult-themed lyrical imagery with hard-hitting, doom-laden riffs, bluesy vocals, and plenty of experimentation. "Asphodel" kicks things off in fine fashion, sounding like it came from a 1969 time capsule, with Iommi-styled riffs and reverb-drenched vocals leading the charge, and it's followed up by the rampaging bruiser "Cosmic Suicide", where pounding drums, crushing riffs, wailing guitar solos, and gut-wrenching vocals just grab the listener by the throat and refuse to let go. "Lucifer's Hand" is a slower, doom-styled song, a must-hear for any fan of early Sabbath as well as Pentagram, and the faster-paced "Creeping Willow" is a riff-fest complete with killer drumming that adds to the headbanging excitement. After some wonderful acoustic guitar on "Across the Creek", the band lurches back with the psych/proto-metal gem that is the title track. "The Spiral" is drenched in fuzz (never a bad thing!) and the spooky "When the Witches" is a massive doom feast for all lovers of the evil, almighty riff. Toss in the creepy, psychedelic "Wormwood" and the ominous yet hard-hitting closer "The Well" and you have a mighty album from these Norwegians that will make any lover of classic heavy, psychedelic music very, very happy. More please!!
Track Listing
1) Asphodel
2) Cosmic Suicide
3) Lucifer's Hand
4) Creeping Willow
5) Across the Creek
6) The Eldorado Spell
7) The Spiral
8) When the Witches
9) Wormwood
10) The Well
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