Band: Argus
Title: Boldly Stride The Doomed
Label: Cruz Del Sur Music
Distribution: Sonic RendezVous
Release date: May 13th 2011
Review: CD

The Pennsylvania-based Doom-formation Argus are not that known, even though the band features former Penance-vocalist Brian ‘Butch’ Balich. A first demo in 2007 established their name in their home state and somewhat outside, but especially their self-titled studio full length (released in 2009) put the name Argus on top of USA’s North-Eastern scene.
And even though I haven’t seen them playing live, I hear that their live performances are as solid and convincing as the studio material - FYI.
The sophomore effort, Boldly Stride The Doomed, has duration of fifty five minutes and brings little original yet solid Traditional Doom. Opening song Abandoning The Gates Of Byzantium, for example, combines vocal and instrumental elements from Candlemass, Penance and Solitude Aeternus (+ side-project Concept Of God) at the one hand, and melodic twin riffs à la early Paradise Lost or My Dying Bride. A track like A Curse On The World, the second song, also implements another Metal genre: (Traditional / True) Heavy Metal, with lots of connections to Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden. This mixture of Doom and (NWOB) Heavy Metal is more than acceptable, even though not renewing in general. Further on, other bands that come to mind are, for example, Black Sabbath (like that lead riff in the title track…), Witchfield, Trouble, Sanctuary, Savatage (early years), Omen, Pagan Altar or young Chilean top-act Procession. Indeed, this band does not reinvent the Doom-scene, yet they sort of pay homage to the core of Heavy / Doom Metal in all its purity and honesty.
Highly recommended to any fan of this genre!

80/100

Ivan Tibos.