The ways created by BLACK SABBATH in it’s early works are still relevant today, and it’s not a sin to say that “Black Sabbath” (1970), “Paranoid” (1970), “Master of Reality” (1971), “Vol. 4” (1972), “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” (1973) and “Sabotage” (1975) cover a vast set of genres, from Hard Rock to Heavy Metal, and influences for all Metal acts that exist (in a direct or indirect form). To prove that, one can taste “The Last Odyssey”, the new full-length of the German quartet DEAF LIZARD.

The band works on a trench that can be easily defined as Doom Hard Rock, or in other words, the weight and somber approach into music, but filled with the most accessible elements BLACK SABBATH summoned (as a reference, remember songs as “The Wizard” and “Sabbra Cadabra” to have a clear vision of such idea), based on very good instrumental parts filled with psychedelic and lysergic moments, with synths reinforcing the bitterness on some moments. Yes, the band is pretty good, indeed.

The quartet took the duties of producing the album (that was recorded at recorded at The Lizard’s Den, that seems to be a place the band owns), with mixing and mastering being done at Matt Sounds Productions. All to create that Doom Metal organic and nasty sonority (due the instrumental tunes used on the recordings), but with a defined and organic approach.

“Nuclear” is an oppressive instrumental song filled with many synths’ parts contrasting with the guitars, and “The Devil’s Show” keeps things as oppressive and heavy as possible. On “City of Life”, the quartet depicts something more accessible into a Hard Rock approach, but still with heavy tunes. “Independent Terror” brings the band back into a Doom Metal form, using excellent groove parts due the strong work of bass guitar and drums, what is reinforced on “Lady in Black” due its oppressive slow tempos (and good vocals that could be better used). A bit more experimental and lysergic is “Ape’s Odyssey”, a long song filled with accessible elements contrasting with the earth-shattering weighty of the guitars. And “The Veil” shows that essential Bluesy touch entwined by lysergic parts that Heavy Metal inherited from its predecessors.

“The Last Odyssey” is here to show that DEAF LIZARD keeps on its hard work, and can be a very good option for those that are searching for good Doom Metal new names.