Since a long time ago, Doom Metal is in evidence once more. The genre that was born on the late 70's due bands carrying the slow and bitter essence of earlier works from BLACK SABBATH, but was improved by CANDLEMASS on the second half of the 80's, and that gained a new set of elements when MY DYING BRIDE and PARADISE LOST left their Death Metal influences on the past. Obviously, the new generation got many influences from MOONSPELL as well. But can a band trying to play the on the older way be relevant by now? Well, North American trio OGRE is here to answer the question with "Thrice as Strong", their fifth album.

They're a band that uses the old ways of Doom Metal, like those names from the genre's early days, but not sounding moldy and raw as those bands. The trio's musical work is based on a melodic and charming Doom Metal mixed with influences from Hard Rock and North American traditional Heavy Metal, and it sounds heavy weight and bitter, but with hooking melodies that are great as well. The sound quality of the album is really excellent. It's modern and clean in a way that everything can be understood easily, but always with an organic feeling, that kind of feeling that denounces that the trio recorded everything in the simplest way possible. And it fits and works to their music, indeed!

"The Future" with its slow tempos and bittersweet melodies (and very good guitar riffs), the catchy tempos and energy of "Hive Mind" (very good drums and bass guitar parts) and "Judgement Day" (some parts will remind the listeners of "Seek and Destroy"), and the heavy and great harmonies of "Cyber-Czar" (good vocals and backing vocals, indeed) are the best songs from the album. But as long as the listeners get used to "Thrice as Strong", they'll love all the songs. OGRE shows that their 20 years career is a sign not of resilience, but of luck. Luck of the fans, because "Thrice as Strong" is really a very good release.