In exactly 10 days, I’ll be boarding a plane from the dreary metropolis that is Chicago to good ol’ Sin City, Las Vegas. If you’re doing so too, chances are we’re going for the same reason: Psycho Las Vegas. This 3 day nonstop celebration of all things heavy and bizarre has grown to become one of the premiere extreme music festivals in the country. This year’s lineup is led by exclusive US performances from Emperor and Mercyful Fate, as well as a slew of other euro acts who seldom play stateside (i.e. At the Gates, Samael, Carcass, Paradise Lost, Ulver, etc.). There’s also no shortage of up and coming bands to explore, such as Early Moods.
Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Early Moods was formed by former Skeletal Remains/current Rude drummer, Edward Andrade. A man of many talents, Early Moods sees him shifting his focus towards guitars alongside fellow axeslinger Oscar Hernandez. Rounding out this quintet is drummer Chris Flores, bassist Elix Feliciano, and singer Alberto Alcaraz. Together, they five specialize in a powerful and pummeling brand of doom metal that takes cues from early Trouble, 80s Pentagram, Witchfinder General, and of course, Black Sabbath.
If you’re looking for slit your wrist gloominess, or marijuana induced haze, look elsewhere. Early Moods self titled debut is about as high energy as a doom band can get. The opening “Return to Salem’s Gate” establishes this ethos early on, with its ferocious riffs, intoxicating twin leads, and relentless spirit. “Live to Suffer” spices up the pot with its groove-doom hybrid, while “Defy Thy Name” boasts the explosive musicianship of 70s metal. The warm, crisp production further emphasizes the intricacies of each individual member and bolsters the sound as a whole.
While I wouldn’t go so far to label Early Moods a “Sabbath clone”, the Godfathers of Metal’s influence on the band becomes more than evident on this album’s second half. “Last Rites” screams Sabbathian arrangement, starting out as a treacherous doom metal crawl, only to switch things up halfway with a hard rocking swing and bounce (i.e. “Killing Yourself to Live”). “Curse the Light” and “Funeral Macabre” almost veer into the progressive side of things compositionally. Its sprawling twists and turns are reminiscent of too many 70s acts to name, but in this scenario, mid Sabotage era Sabbath comes to mind. This is not a criticism as much as its an observation, because in all serious, these songs slap.
Early Moods is one of those albums that even somebody who’s picky about doom metal (such as myself) can appreciate. There’s nothing revolutionary going on here, but contrary to whatever hipster metal scribes may claim, there hasn’t been anything revolutionary within the doom metal realm since the last century. On that note, I advise you to sit back, pick your poison (alcohol, pot, whatever other illicit substance tickles your fancy), and crank up Early Moods LOUD. I know I will, especially ahead of watching them lay waste to the town that Wayne Newton built.
7 out of 10
Label: RidingEasy Records
Genre: Doom Metal
For fans of: Pentagram, Black Sabbath, Witchfinder General