Band : Hour Of 13

Album Title : Hour Of 13

Label : Shadow Kingdom

Distributor : Bertus

Release Date : March 2008

Review : CD

When I received this album a month ago (with the new Upwards Of Endtime -CD) I was all excited and my hopes were enormously high as I've heard nothing but good comments about this US doom band really. This conceptual creation by Chad Davis ( Subklinik - Anu - US Christmas) and Phil Swanson (Seamount - Upwards of Endtime - Earthlord ) found a home in Shadow Kingdom Records , a small metal label in pokertown Las Vegas .

Hour of 13 does the throb-tempo grooves as well as Witchfinder General or The Obsessed but they're versatile enough to pick up the pace when necessary. The album is filled with diversity, swirling hooks that grab you by the balls, catchy choruses, swinging rhythms, emotional and melodic tunes, groovy furious axework , and do I hear some old Judas Priest in there on “Grim reality” and “Allowance of sin”.   The NWOBHM influence is loud and clear, but never derrative .. I've made many personal associations while listening to these guys and the comparisons to Priest , Witchfinder General, Pagan Altar, Warning, Pentagram, Count Raven and ofcourse Black Sabbath are more than favourable . In my opinion, one of the stronger features is the vocal parts that guide all the songs into the infernal gateways of Hour Of 13 .

If you consider yourself a fan of doom metal in the original sense, do yourself a favor and buy this record. To get yourself a copy, head on over to label's website www.shadowkingdomrecords.com

90/100

Cosmicmasseur.