Stoner Metal is a style who reminds you, unfailingly, of a good beer, and game of snooker. And SKULLBOOGEY, a German band from the Usingen city who will release their fourth album called "Purified", by the label Finest Noise Records can now also be added to that list.

The first thing you notice is the professional production of this album. All the instruments - and voice - are balanced. The band's influences are clearly BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, especially on guitars. The singer - Stefan Wendling - has a pleasant voice, and he with Jens Urban do an unbelievable job on guitars. Throughout the whole album, they are heavy but don't interfere in the others' instruments.

The first track, "Speedin' With the Devil" is a cliché song but with talented musicians that emphasize the others. The second, "The Wolves" follows the same style , as does the third, "Goodbye". In "All Is Dead", it's possible to feel the emotion carried by the guitars in the duet by Stefan and Jens, and also in the bluesy influence in this song.

And - again - all-the-same style reigns in the tracks "River" and "Freakshow". The last one is a bit different because the guitars are heavier but the same structure was used during the song - initial instrumental riffs, vocals, chorus, the same riffs and the chorus repeated a lot of times. "Mental Therapie" had a calm atmosphere and less heavy than the others, whilst in "Video Babe" the guys explore the sexy climate with dirty guitars and the bass helping to make the song heavier.

Finally! In "Another Man's War" the tempo picks up and you almost start headbanging with the initials riffs. The band shows they can be creative when they want to. The songs stay the same in "Burner" and "Skullboogey Man". In the last song - "Bad Reputation Blues" - they show us an incredible blues style. Blues made by Germans! It's amazing!

SKULLBOOGEY is a good band, with talented musicians. But Stoner Metal hasn't been recognized with creative bands. And, with "Another Man's War" and the surprise "Bad Reputation Blues" being the only exceptions, SKULLBOOGEY show us that "Purified" has nothing unique to set it apart from other bands.