Chicago based PROFESSOR EMERITUS blazes onto the scene with "Take Me to the Gallows" featuring seven majestic, doom cloaked, power metal laden tracks sure to bring out the inner warrior. Drawing soundscapes similar to IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST, and DIO, PROFESSOR EMERITUS  spins harrowing tales of battle and imminent death.

"Burning Grave" is a heavy, epic song. The mighty vocal stylings of Papai ignite this fiery track. I was immediately picturing fantastic battles between sword wielding warriors adorned in armor on a blood stained battlefield amidst and amber sunset. "He Will Be Undone" has a slower, doomy sound. The epic vocal stylings never waiver.  The song evokes strong imagery in the listener as the lyrics are belted out on top of the brooding death march meant for the tyrannical monarch. "Chaos Bearer" rips in with intense energy and IRON MAIDEN type galloping guitar riffs. "Take Me to the Gallows" stands out with somnolent, clean, stately sound. Papai's vocals are refreshingly less over the top here than on the previous tracks so far.

"Rats in the Walls" whips up the intensity again. The parts with the heavier riffing have a strong groove to them which really makes the song interesting. Papai's vocals are raw, perhaps a bit much for some tastes, but in my opinion this only adds to the overall feeling of the track. "Rosamund" erupts in its power metal grandeur. Professor Emeritus unleashes another epic track as one might have begun to expect by this point in the album. The closing track, foreboding "Decius" brings more of the doom sound, with a daunting length of over ten minutes. The song is a bit draggy as it trudges along with Papai wailing about mire, and fields, and what nots. For me, the listening experience became captivating when I reached the guitar solo. I enjoyed the stripped down, bassy background against the crooning melody unchained during the solo. PROFESSOR EMERITUS creates a legendary, epic, doom metal monolith in "Take Me to the Gallows." Fans of doom metal and power metal specifically should definitely give this band a listen.