Earpollution
Sabrina Haines
Grand Magus
Grand Magus
The Music Cartel
Thereīs nothing like a bluesy, old-fashioned Swedish power trio of doom, is there? Licensed from Lee Dorrianīs Rise Above label, Grand Magus unleashes their debut of magickal doom for the U.S. on The Music Cartel. Like all good doom bands, Grand Magus are highly reminiscent of Black Sabbath. They havenīt added anything new to the genre, but they have unleashed a particularly muscular and powerful version of blues-doom. The Swedish trio consists of JB (now splitting time between Grand Magus and Spiritual Beggars) on vocals and guitar, Foxy on bass and Trisse on Drums. Originally dubbed Smack, after Trisse joined on drums, the name was updated to the more appropriate Grand Magus. Lee Dorrian spotted the trio, signed them to Rise Above and the rest is history. From the cover art to the music, Grand Magus has a mystical, Scandinavian feel to it, but it also reeks of traditional bottom-heavy doom. Songs like "Gauntlet," "Legion," "Black Hound of Vengeance," "Wheel of Time," and "Lodbrok" are pounded out by the bluesy trio like an old blacksmith pounded iron. This has the feel of older-than-old-school doom -- not new, but very distinctive. "Black Hole" has JB sporting countrified vocals and considerably more blues-oriented than the rest of the disc. "Mountain of Power" is their heaviest and best song on disc. Smart move putting it at the end, it only makes you play the dang disc again and again. Grand Magus are currently touring Europe with Orange Goblin. Definitely a good show to catch.
-Sabrina Haines
[ 06.17.2002 ]
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