So tell me sailor...if your sails of life were to catch the chilling wind of death, would you let the vessel capsize or tell the helmsman to steer her majesty right into the dark eyes of the storm whilst bearing the smile of a skull? For doom is in the eye of the beholder, and if you allow the reaper's knock to rattle your cage then perhaps you should indeed pack up your bones; but if that call is met with a beer and lengthy roar, then maybe that scythe shall swing the other way.

In this wondrous Metal world of ours we are often subjected to norms and customs that may perhaps baffle inhabitants of lighter circles. One of those very atypical traits of our metallized community is the ability of its proponents to face doom and make a soiree of it. Stoner Rock and riff-driven Hard Rock genres in particular make a point of exploring an amiable relationship with gloom, and on their aptly titled debut effort "Post Mortem Blues" Italian Heavy Rockers THE OSSUARY open up the doors to the afterlife, only to fill it with a loud crunch of Rock 'N' Roll; now it's a party.

Stop the autopsy...the amplifiers are very much alive. "Post Mortem Blues" beats with classic 70s vibes as it shuns superstitions and kicks this record to life with the riff-heavy "Black Curse". As one might expect, BLACK SABBATH's eternal essence is ever so present here, and yet THE OSSUARY's sound doesn't centre solely on the Stoner/Doom originators. Songs like the following "Witch Fire" and the titles track "Post Mortem Blues" see the band throw some Celtic swing into the mix and pay homage to Irish greats like THIN LIZZY (one of the band's cited influences) with Bluesy seaward rhythms and reverb-drenched licks. Meanwhile, burly, heavy-footed numbers like "Graves Underwater" and "The Crowning Stone" trudge through Sludge territory as they amplify the ethos of other Doom revolutionaries like PENTAGRAM.

This record is abundant with groove. The thick, fuzzy wall of distortion engulfs the listener like a prickly wave whilst the vocals of Stefano Fiore croon in polished swells. The production is indeed rather mushy, but given its old-school musical trajectory, no criticism shall come its way, for it captures the spirit of 70's Heavy Rock almost perfectly.

Granted, this offering is far from original. "Post Mortem Blues", whilst genuinely endearing, lacks any truly memorable zest that would linger on your palate. The band's intentions, although great and appealing to any Rock lover, shall perhaps only make their way to the shelves of true genre enthusiasts.

Overall - "Post Mortem Blues" exchanges barbs with the reaper and walks away pretty much unscathed. THE OSSUARY tap deep into Doom Rock roots to deliver a heavily confident, albeit slightly run-of-the-mill debut that is a solid and pleasing offering for fans of the genre as well as seasoned listeners.