Orthodox are a power trio from Spain that specialize in minimalist doom metal and their full length debut Gran Poder is an exercise in brutality as much as it is tolerance. The opening track, the epic 27 minute "Geryon's Throne" sets the bar high as well as the tone for the rest of the album. You get the same repetitive guitar riffs and drum beats for approximately half the song as things plod along at an extremely slow pace. This only adds to the suspense and tension as the momentum builds and builds and the listener is left waiting for things to blow wide open. The vocals are full of anguish and sound like someone who has come to terms with the fact that they will meet a slow and painful demise. Things do come to a bit of a standstill before a brief spiraling onslaught of psychedelic guitar enters the fray. The final 4 minutes finds the trio finally rocking out in splendid fashion before the song returns once again to more repetition and sludge riffing, finally bringing this beast to its inevitable conclusion. The second number "Arrodillate Ante La Madera y La Piedra" continues along much of the same sonic territory, the riffs are slow and trudging as the drummer keeps busy with plenty of fills and cymbal crashes. The brief interlude "Oficio de Tinieblas" is nothing more than a drum and piano piece and really serves no purpose. "El Lamento del Cabrón" starts off with more slow sludgery but actually finds the trio stretching out a bit more and adding a little more variety as far as tempo changes go. The band then turns in a bit of a mind fuck by slowly incorporating long drones between the sludge hammer guitar work as they repeat the process over and over again. As the song reaches its climax the drones go on longer and the lack of music increases until the end. The album concludes with a brilliant and ultra heavy run through Venom's "Genocide". While one could suggest that it may seem a bit out of place and doesn't fit in stylistically with the rest of the material on Gran Poder I thought it was a fitting conclusion to an absolutely monstrous debut CD.
Track Listing 1) Geryon's Throne
2) Arrodillate Ante La Madera y La Piedra
3) Oficio de Tinieblas
4) El Lamento del Cabrón
5) Genocide
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Orthodox are a power trio from Spain that specialize in minimalist doom metal and their full length debut Gran Poder is an exercise in brutality as much as it is tolerance. The opening track, the epic 27 minute "Geryon's Throne" sets the bar high as well as the tone for the rest of the album. You get the same repetitive guitar riffs and drum beats for approximately half the song as things plod along at an extremely slow pace. This only adds to the suspense and tension as the momentum builds and builds and the listener is left waiting for things to blow wide open. The vocals are full of anguish and sound like someone who has come to terms with the fact that they will meet a slow and painful demise. Things do come to a bit of a standstill before a brief spiraling onslaught of psychedelic guitar enters the fray. The final 4 minutes finds the trio finally rocking out in splendid fashion before the song returns once again to more repetition and sludge riffing, finally bringing this beast to its inevitable conclusion. The second number "Arrodillate Ante La Madera y La Piedra" continues along much of the same sonic territory, the riffs are slow and trudging as the drummer keeps busy with plenty of fills and cymbal crashes. The brief interlude "Oficio de Tinieblas" is nothing more than a drum and piano piece and really serves no purpose. "El Lamento del Cabrón" starts off with more slow sludgery but actually finds the trio stretching out a bit more and adding a little more variety as far as tempo changes go. The band then turns in a bit of a mind fuck by slowly incorporating long drones between the sludge hammer guitar work as they repeat the process over and over again. As the song reaches its climax the drones go on longer and the lack of music increases until the end. The album concludes with a brilliant and ultra heavy run through Venom's "Genocide". While one could suggest that it may seem a bit out of place and doesn't fit in stylistically with the rest of the material on Gran Poder I thought it was a fitting conclusion to an absolutely monstrous debut CD. 
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