Moonless - Calling All Demons (2012)

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Moonless - Calling All Demons (2012)

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Moonless is a doomrock band from Copenhagen/Elsinore. In the last two years Moonless have dominated the almost non-existent stoner scene in Denmark, supporting legendary bands such as Saint Vitus, Pentagram and Church of Misery. Their main influence, is Black Sabbath and many other heavy rock bands from the 70'ties, so expect a worship of the heavy riff, slow groove, and to get blown away. They have made a self released 12". "Born Burned Out" and a limited tour edition of the "Calling All Demons" Lp which was released March 2012 on Doomentia Records. (Heavy Planet Stoner Rock Blog: New Band To Burn One To: MOONLESS)

One of the benefits of being a well-known reviewer of the heavy is sometimes bands and albums come to my attention that are a total surprise. This band from Copenhagen is one of those bands. If you like your doom metal to be old school and very traditionally metal, this is a band for you. The band has all the classic old-school traditional doom rock elements starting with Black Sabbath and Cathedral but that is blended with early 80's metal sounds that are similar to the likes of Mercyful Fate and Cirith Ungol.

The bands don't describe themselves as "doom metal" per se, more like a rock/metal band with a doom edge and that is about as accurate description as you could get. If you like old-fashioned heavy metal but like it doom laden, you can't go past this album from Moonless. Perhaps the best reference point might be early Orange Goblin. Like early goblin, this band has a rich psychedelic sabbathian approach but whats more important is they make something old sound new again.

Yes nothing on this album is new but it all sounds so fresh, so dynamic and so amazingly infectious. Most of this comes from incredible riff after incredible riff, most of which sound like they were pulled from an unreleased Black Sabbath album. So you could say this very much in the 70's hard rock vein but make no mistake about it, this band is heavy. Moonless are great songwriters, although not original. The songs have the kind of grooves that gives you goosebumps much like how the classic bands of the 70's did when you first heard them and the musicianship is just as insane. So what is it about this band that makes them so great? That is hard to say really. There is nothing on this album that hasn't been done a million times before but these tunes are addictive. Kicking off the album is 'Mark of the Dead' which gets this infectious riff-fest on its way with a guitar riff that is ominously Iommi-ish. The song is a lot more upbeat compared with what else is on the album but it is the perfect way to hook you into the album. The song is so good in-fact that you could turn it off this early into the album and you would be satisfied enough but there is so much more to come.

The second track 'Devils Tool' is more insane riffing and even more over-the-top lead work. It is still driving, faster than the average doom rock kind of stuff but there is a haunting vibe to the song that is made even more ominous with vocalist Kenni amazingly gifted vocal range. They slow things down for the next track 'Horn of the Ram' but it again builds with catchy grooves and ends up another powerhouse, energetic performance. Turn the album over and you get to the title track and it is another winner. This track is on par with the other tracks on the album till it gets to the halfway point when a sabbathian riff is unleashed that would make Tony Iommi jealous with envy. 'The Bastard in Me' is a direct dose of energetic catchy riffing and more 70's rock-god vocals. The album then ends with 'Midnight Skies' whose main highlight I think is the wonderful singing from Kenni who puts on a Rob Halfordish quality performance.

While the band doesn't vary their songs that much, this 40 minute album is so addictive that you won't be able to stop listening. There are not many albums that leave me lost for words for a review but this release has done that. It is just non-stop solid doom-rock that would have sold millions if it had have been released circa 1975. This is highly recommended for anyone who likes their doom rock catchy, groovy and full of hooks. "A Must Have." ….9.5/10

~ doommantia.com