Stoner Rock/Metal is becoming so full of bands that erosion marks can be detected as more bands are heard in the genre. It's a clear consequence of the abusive number of releases playing the same musical way, and on many moments, the listeners can have the idea of hearing the same band again and again. On the new release of the Canadian band BLACK MASTIFF, the album "Loser Delusions", although it's not bad, it really gives the idea that the band could have done better music on it.

Their Stoner Rock/Metal approach is good, indeed, and they really show a talented musical work, filled with energy and very good catchy melodies. But that old feeling that says "I-already-hear-that-somewhere" is constant as the album is being played. A second hearing shows that the band is far from being a clone, because the songs work pretty well, but they could be better. It's the point that separates the ones who'll be great someday from those whose efforts will never take them anywhere. Once more: it's good, but common. The album was produced by Bobby Yiannakoulias and Clay Shea, and was mixed and mastered by Greg Dawson. Their work is fine, because the sound quality is really great, with everything sounding understandable to the ears, and with a very good organic ambience due the instrumental tunes used on the album. Then, there are no complains to be done about the production.

But maybe the responsibility of producing their album took the focus from Bobby and Clay from the music itself. There are very good moments on the album, as "Downed by a Sound" (an extremely solid work from bass guitar and drums), the thunderous melodies of "Machines", the old and heavy Bluesy feeling of "A Tangle", the perfect match between heavy weight and charming melodies presented on "Paddle", and the introspective noir feeling of "Spastic Rhythms". But the idea after hearing the album more than twice times is that something is missing, something that binds everything together and makes a musical work really great. To Stoner Rock/Metal maniacs, "Loser Delusions" is a good release, but for those who aren't into the genre, BLACK MASTIFF isn't the right band to start with.