Band: Sourvein
Title: Black Fangs
Label: Candlelight Records
Distribution: Plastic Head Distribution / Bertus
Release date: July 18th 2011
Review: CD

One of the strongest and most intense and pounding Doom-formations from the north of the American continent are Sourvein. The band was formed in 1993 by vocalist T-Roy, and throughout all these years, they didn’t release but a limited number of recordings. Three full lengths (the last one, Will To Mangle, was released in 2002), a handful of EP’s and several splits, as well as a contribution on a tribute-album to Eyehategod, that’s Sourvein’s discography so far, yet without exception, all of these releases were reviewed very positively.
Along with King James (g), Ahmasi O’Daniel (b) and Jeffrie ‘Kong’ Moon (d), T-Roy did create another epos from the darkest order, called Black Fangs (with duration of forty four minutes). The gargantuan album (the sound is massive!) brings the kind of Sludge / Doom that sort of explodes lately, the droning approach and the few grooving riffs, with the raw and venomous guttural screams included. The songs on Black Fangs come with rather repetitive rhythms, yet not as continuously repetitive as Horseback, for example. The song structures and oppressive approach are comparable to bands as Eyehategod, Thou and Grief, including lots of elements from acts like Saint Vitus and Black Sabbath. Church Of Misery, Buried At Sea, Ocean, Unearthly Trance, Buried Inside and Tekhton are other names that might come to mind.
The material isn’t bad at all, but Sourvein have never been the most innovative band ever and they won’t reinvent the purest definition of Doom / Sludge Metal. Black Fangs again is a mostly acceptable Sourvein-masterpiece, yet I don’t think it’s the best release within this specific genre this year. But: recommended to fans of the scene.

78/100

Ivan Tibos.