Band : Mirror Queen
Album Title : From Earth Below
Label : Teepee Records
Distributor : Teepee Records
Release Date : 2011
Review : CD

I have to thank the guys from Mirror Queen who gave their debut cd after the Up In Smoke Tour Volume II-fest with Atomic Bitchwax, Naam, Quest For Fire and Mirror Queen at Trix in Antwerp.

Mirror Queen rose from the ashes of Kreisor where Kenny Kreisor (guitars/vocals) and Jeremy O'Brien (drums) were members. They have been joined by Dave McGauley on bass and Steve Austin (ex-Pink Swords) on second guitar.

The grooving 70s stoner rock elements with an indie rock approach are the name of the game here. Frankly, the combination of those styles definitely works extremely well together. Yes, Mirror Queen don’t break any new ground but they don’t wear their influences on their collective sleeve. The one great thing I found about this cd was that even though I tried I could not really compare them to any one band in particular. The album includes nine tracks and a fine cover-version of Captain Beyond’s  “Mesmerization eclipse”.. From Earth Below offers a great deal of catchy and melodic hooks capturing the listener making them pay attention to the album. “The mirror queen (part 1 & 2)” cover the shadow of Truly, Hum and Sister Machine, the better grungy inspired guitar rock bands from the nineties. “Black finger sattelite” is a heavy groovy rocker, close to The Atomic Bitchwax. Kenny plays some great solos and has lots of guitar melody throughout. The production's not thick and heavy, more dry and natural sounding but for my taste there's a small lack of power in it.

I can't compare this album to older Kreisor’s material, but From Earth Below is a highly entertaining album with very few lowlights and Mirror Queen have created an addictive rocking mixture, that should please every listener of  70's/indie influenced heavy rock.

87/100

Cosmicmasseur.