As the forefathers of Doom Metal, BLACK SABBATH laid many layers on the genre and has given a subjective lesson to all Metal genres: no one needs to be a genius to play music. Think about it: Ozzy doesn’t have a great voice, Tony lost some of his fingertips, Terry wasn’t a bass player, but a rhythmic guitarist, and Bill had his inner struggles as well. Just four guys that fought to make a dream come true and created Metal, even without being highly skilled musicians. And such lesson is what depicts the music of the Finnish Doom Metal cult named CARDINALS FOLLY, as heard on their new album, “Live by the Sword”.

The band works on a trench into Doom Metal that’s nearer what acts as TROUBLE, SAINT VITUS, WITCHFINDER GENERAL, CANDLEMASS and - mainly - BLACK SABBATH did on their initial works: heavy, slow paced, but bearing some traces of Hard Rock and Psychedelic Rock. As the first paragraph states, there’s no virtuous playing on the album, because the band’s music don’t asks for such thing, but focus on weight, somber ambiences filled with tons of weight, and a massive energy that flows from their melodies. Yes, Doom Metal fans will appreciate it a lot, but fans of Metal with good taste will like the album as well.

The trio decided to work with Jani Snellman (recording, mixing) and Janne Hakanen (mastering) on the studio, and they did a very good work: the sonority of “Live by the Sword” is defined, but abrasive and nasty as a Doom Metal album must sound. It’s nothing trying to emulate the past, but uses elements of the past (it’s a fine work, even with the album being recorded only in two days). And Jani appears as guest on the organ on “Life Eternal”. And the artwork for the cover - a creation of Witchaser Art - fits on the lyrical/musical load of the band’s music.

The band has potential to take higher flights, as heard on songs as “Ride or Die 666” (a fine mix between hard Rock and Doom Metal elements, based mainly on very good guitar riffs and arrangements), “Luciferian” (another Doom Metal song filled with Hard Rock melodies, catching the listener easily, and what a solid work of bass guitar and drums), “Priesthood of Darkness” (where Doom Metal side of their music becomes evident due the bitter and horror-like ambiences, and in such moments the vocals fits in a better way), “Live by the Sword” (another heavier song, where influences of acts as BLUE CHEER becomes sensible in the melodies, besides the attack of the guitars pull things back into Doom Metal) and “Last Bastion of Doom”. But there’s a ‘but’ that must be stated: the vocals aren’t fitting 100% when the band uses a more Hard Rock/Rock ‘n’ Roll tendency, but’s a matter of rehearsals (again: I’m not saying to take Mikko off the vocals).

“Live by the Sword” is really a very good album and will embrace all the fans of Doom Metal, Stoner Metal/Rock and others tendencies. It’s just a matter of listening to and praising CARDINALS FOLLY.