As
we may have mentioned before, Iron Void
are one the UK
Black
Sabbath
– “Black Sabbath”
The
album that started it all! As soon as you hear the rain and thunder with the
church bell tolling in the distance, you know you're in something heavy. It
could be argued that they've done better albums since, but the first one
captures the sinister essence of Black Sabbath while keeping the blues and jazz
part of their sound. Songs from this and the “Paranoid” album were the first Sabbath riffs I learned to play, and I learned
a lot about how the drums, guitar and bass can work together. Each instrument
is really clearly defined and easy to make out. I don't always agree with
everything Ozzy Osbourne says, but I think he could be right about this being
his best vocal performance on record. This is a simpler sounding band, but just
as heavy as their later albums. This record sounds good at any volume level.
It's heavy and powerful, loud and relaxing and melodic if you turn it down.
Cathedral – “The
Carnival Bizarre”
“Hopkins – The Witchfinder
General”
is a very cheesy song, and I'm sure we're all sick of it now. It did get
me into Cathedral
and made me check out their albums though, so it served its purpose in that
respect. I think this was the first or second Cathedral album I ever heard.
It's the first one without Adam Lehan (Gaz Jennings plays all the guitar on it)
and that seems to give it a different character. Gaz was able to do whatever he
wanted and it seems to be a bit more focused for it. It's the perfect mix of
heavy doom metal and psychedelia. I don't know if Lee Dorian's vocals have aged
that well, but it really opened my eyes to simple songwriting and how much you
could do with a couple of riffs. It's worth mentioning that the track 'Utopian Blaster' features a guest solo
by none other than Tony Iommi himself! It's worth checking out just for that
fact alone. I've still got the double 10” vinyl somewhere in my collection and
it's not likely to be sold any time soon!
Iron Man – “Generation
Void”
Like
the other albums on my list, “Generation Void” is mainly made
up of simple riffs and well timed vocals, backed up by a tight rhythm section.
That's all you need to be honest! Al Morris III comes up with riffs to rival
even Black Sabbath
on this album. I heard it years ago but I only bought a copy on CD
about ten years ago. It just always seems to have been there. Someone must have
taped it for me at some point because I remember listening to it a lot. This is
probably the first 'Maryland doom' band that I heard, and the simple song writing
mixed with melodic vocals have stayed with me into my songwriting for Iron Void.
The riffs from 'Final Resting Place'
(from “Spell of Ruin”) are directly inspired by Al Morris' guitar
playing style.
Spirit
Caravan
– “Jug Fulla Sun”
After
Iron Man,
Spirit
Caravan are the next logical step forward. I met up with Murray (who
I would later find out was in year Zero) and a mate of his a couple of times
with the intention of starting a band. It never came to be, but one of them
suggested I listen to this record. I remember thinking the name sounded daft,
but it stuck in my memory. I think I bought the “Dreamwheel” EP
before this, but this was the first full album of Wino's music that I ever got
hold of. From here, I moved on to Saint Vitus and The Obsessed, as well as The Hidden Hand,
Place of
Skulls, you name it. I couldn't believe that I'd never heard of Wino
before 1999/2000. I knew about Iron Man but I'd never heard any Pentagram,
Saint Vitus
or anything like that. I really like simple riffs and powerful clean vocals,
and Wino is the master of that! His influence can be heard in everything we've
done so far, especially my approach to playing guitar and singing at the same
time when playing live. He's not really doing anything unique, but the way he
plays really struck a chord with me. Having Gary Isom and Dave Sherman as the
rhythm section couldn't have done any harm either! Spirit Caravan's music taught me
that it's OK to write simple songs on purpose. They were a master class in how
to put together a power trio.
Pagan Altar – “Judgement
of the Dead”
Another
band that I didn't get to hear until I got online. I think I first heard this
album around 2003 or 2004, when it was out on CD as “Volume 1”. I got
the vinyl reissue entitled “Judgement of the Dead” a few
years later, and it was worth every penny. Their music is a mix of NWOBHM,
classic rock and what we would now call Doom Metal. Simple heavy rock
arrangements with bluesy guitar but dark, sinister and honest vocals and
lyrics. This is their debut album, and it's a bit rough production-wise. I tend
to like these the best though, because it's the first incarnation of a band.
Everything is new and the enthusiasm is still there. Pagan Altar reformed with a new
drummer and bass player a few years ago after a resurgence of interest in the
band. We were lucky enough to gig with them a few times and it was a pleasure
to see and hear them play live, even though Terry was obviously a lot older
than he looked on the album cover! He is sorely missed and unfortunately there
are still a lot of doom and metal fans out there who have no idea who he was or
what the band might have sounded like.
Iron Void plays “Hammer of Doom” fest this
Saturday. Check the poster below for
more details.
