It might be getting late in the year but Germany's GRIM VAN DOOM have raised the bar for 2015's Doom albums. Their debut "Grim Love" is an agonising and enthralling trawl through the dark heart of heavy metal. Slow paced, down tuned and bleak music is the order of the day but rather than being yet another bunch of ELECTRIC WIZARD copyists, they've got a clearly defined sound of their own and it's way more entertaining than it has any right to be.

For one thing, GRIM VAN DOOM sound like they enjoy Hardcore just as much as getting stoned and listening to BLACK SABBATH. The riff-tastic "Snowfields" for instance is a breakdown heavy beast, lumbering with meat-headed aggression while "Butchr" (sic) isn't too far removed from a MALEVOLENCE song that's been dramatically slowed down. In both, the bass chugs high in the mix and the power chords are so thick they could have been injected with bull hormones.

Then there's "The Storm," a reverberating kaleidoscope of anger. This is arguably the strongest track on offer, guttural vocals screaming over escalating violence and a tripped out middle section, before descending into ever nastier depths of depravity. It's all completely horrible, but it's impossible to look away. The drawn out finale of this one is worth the price of admission alone.

Elsewhere, "Thulsa" is a fist pumping slice of brawn that owes a debt to the New Orleans Sludge scene as well as offering further evidence that Doom bands are obsessed with CONAN THE BARBARIAN. "Goddam This Love" is about as romantic as a dockyard knife fight and the closing "Nilsis" is a satisfyingly chunky climax. There are no real weak points to be had and at a mere forty minutes in length, it doesn't outstay its welcome either. True, they're not bringing much innovation to the table, but GRIM VAN DOOM are clearly very passionate and enthusiastic about their craft. If you like your metal slow and mean this one is a must have.