In a blessed meeting of old Classic Rock and new Doom/Stoner Metal elements, GRAND DELUSION is another Swedish band with a lot of enjoyment to offer.

The first words spoken on the album sum it up quite brilliantly as "transcending generations". With a repetitive riff that is simple enough to get stuck in your head for much of the track the powerful vocal talents of the band members intermingle to make for a weighty sound. "Mangrove Blues" has just enough Blues-y goodness to complement the plodding, methodical pace. Somehow they managed some warbling distortion with the guitars near the end that is difficult to describe, but I found myself really drawn to it; I almost don't want to think too much about it and ruin the mystery of this creepy sound.

"Trail of the Seven Scorpions" is by far the longest track - twice the length of any other track on the EP. It also turns down a darker, more intense alleyway, but I love it. Variety is the spice of life (and of great albums), and thus comes another catchy riff that had me tapping my foot in seconds. There is a confrontational sort of sound, like something out of Power Metal. I have to say, the vocals weren't my favorite here - something changes halfway through where everyone just sounds...pitchy; there is too much warbling in the voices as though they are straining to hit a note they can't find. This is followed by the cello section, which is an interesting sound pieceh we don't often get with Rock/Metal music.

"Imperator" with its strong vocal presence, chanting backup vocals, and Blues guitar played with a little Metal twinge makes for an enchanting mixture. This is one of those rare songs that once it finished on my first listening, I immediately punched the replay button. "Infinite" echoes with a very SABBATH-like distortion throughout. I loved the theatrical high-reaching vocals roared into the mic. This feels like GRAND DELUSION where trying their hand at 80s NWOBHM sound and it worked out but didn't feel like they just covered a song but changed a few things and slapped their name on it. "Infinite" has their own spin on a particular sound that any Metal-head should recognize.

"Ghost of the Widow McCain" is a Doom Metal track that retains Hard Rock vocals. Another intense track detailing the vengeful ghost of a woman that sinks ships along the coast of the town where she died. Melancholic but also slightly intimidating, the tale of the murderous ghost is a great ending to an album that I would be glad to pay the six dollar asking price for (available through bandcamp, just in case you wondered).

I had a good time listening to "Supreme Machine" and hopefully I won't be the only one because GRAND DELUSION may not be the next huge name in Metal, but they have that perfect balance of originality and simplistic easy-listening Metal sound that makes them perfect for all listeners.