Either the entire European metal scene  has time-traveled back into the 1970s, or the person sending me these albums to review thinks I really like this stuff. WHITE TUNDRA comes to me another, in a long line of European bands trying to rekindle some of that old school spark circa 1970s-1980s. Based in Trondheim, Norway, this understated four-piece started in 2016, featuring rhythm elements of BLACK SABBATH, and a deep, dirty tone similar to MONSTER MAGNET and MOTORHEAD. The first song of this EP "Honningfella" slurs in BLACK SABBATH, TROUBLE and VENOM for the entire 5:13 (which seems like a longer song for some reason). It starts off with this semi-tribal drum intro, that fit perfectly with the album artwork, and lead me to visions of pagan rituals, held in the forest by the light of the moon. Not terribly complex, but heavy. The most notable part for me was the lead at about 3:00, and the lead harmonizing with the rhythm shortly thereafter. Again, not a face-melting lead, but where it lacked in complexity, it made up for in honesty. Not seeking to steal too much of the limelight, and adding some richness to support us on through to the second breakdown.

The second song "One More Place" kept reminding me of DOWN. I don't know why. Something in the hooks, or the meandering of the bass on certain spots, it just seems like it would have been an appropriate 3rd, or 4th A side, if not a 2nd song on the B side of a DOWN album. That and it kind of reminded me of Phillip Anselmo trying to pick up girls, and start crap with guys from the driver's seat of a muscle car. And again, this band shows it's talent for making a 6 minute song feel 25 hours long. It's not that it's "boring", but just that it drives on, like it's just going to continue forever with minor changes per phrase of verse...and then it abruptly ends. As a whole, I couldn't hate this EP. With some tight lead work, thick grooves, and heavy chunkiness, it was enough to show me that these guys are serious about what they are doing. It would probably be a rare day that it ends up in my collection, but I can see how anyone who is really into MONSTER MAGNET, RED FANG, and BLACK SABBATH, could really dig on it.