Being a huge Doom/Sludge Metal fan, I couldn't wait to listen to the new self-titled EP from Albinö Rhino, out now via Inverse Records. And after listening to this four-song "swim through the swamp", I was reminded of why this style of music is so easy on the ears.

Hailing from Helsinki, Finland, Albinö Rhino are a really tight three-piece band that have mastered their down-tuned, stoner sound to the extent that they could be pictured in the dictionary next to the definition of "heavy". With Kimmo Tyni on lead guitar and vocals, Ville Harju on bass and vocals, and Viljami Väre on drums, their sound is as sludgy as cold honey with enough fuzz driven "bottom-end" to make you think your speakers are actually blown. The vocals are strong and gritty and fit this style of doom perfectly.

The first song, "The Forest Prevails", is an instrumental that almost sounds like a broken record, skipping every 30 seconds or so. Don't get me wrong; this is not a bad thing by any means. This is the norm for this genre and follows the schematics of some of the greats before them that have so distinctively influenced them. This repetitive sound will have you intoxicated from the powerful, rhythmic crawl. Track 2, "Sanctification", bleeds old school Black Sabbath from the beginning and never quits. It's best to just sit there and stare at the ceiling with your mind in a stupor. "Blue Mist" is the third track and is a really powerful song that, at times, picks up the tempo just a bit. This minor increase of tempo is still not enough to pull you out of the musical quicksand that you've fallen into. The fourth and final track is "Uphold the Light (Part 1). This song sounds like it could have been a hidden track on a late 80's SAINT VITUS record and clocks in at over 14 minutes. This is my personal favorite on this EP.
Albinö Rhino offer up a really solid release in this still popular and ever-growing genre. If you're into Doom/Sludge Metal, and are a fan of SAINT VITUS, SLEEP, WITCHCRAFT, and/or EARTHRIDE, this for you.

Let me offer you a small piece of advice; be careful if you listen and drive. You could be arrested for driving while intoxicated.