Band: Semlah
Title: Semlah
Label: Cyclone Empire
Distribution: Sure Shot Worx
Release date: 27/03/2009
Review: CD

Semlah are a band with Tommy Wilbur Eriksson, previously also in Count Raven. The formation did release some material before this self-called debut album, among which the strong mini-album Suffering In Silence (2004). Semlah stand for an epic and melodic form of (Traditional) Doom Metal in the vein of, let’s say, Candlemass, Trouble, Krux and Memory Garden (and even bands as Witchsmeller Pursuivant and Post Mortem come to mind), and the quality of both performance and compositions is more than acceptable. All right, of course the band can’t reach the level of Candlemass, but I need to say that the average quality is far above the current grey zone. Indeed, the level of originality is nihil, but it does not matter in Semlah’s case, ‘cause this band is rather refreshing at the same time. The album isn’t world-shocking, but this kind of epic, powerful, darkened and melodic Doom gets performed with conviction and craftsmanship, and that’s what counts!

80/100

Ivan Tibos.