I really enjoy listening to SAINT VITUS. I also grew up with the MISFITS. One of the greatest sins of music was the quick demise of the original MISFITS. I think CASKETS OPEN agree. Even the album cover makes me think of Glen Danzig. Punk with an old school Doom vibe is the easiest wat to sum up this band. The production is unusually raw and natural. It sounds like the way music used to be recorded. The drums sound like a natural kit, no triggers. The guitar has that slightly fuzzy on the edges tone of bands like SAINT VITUS. The vocals for me are a cross between DANZIG and BARONESS.

The drummer would be the weakest link here. I am a musician and I pick up when I hear things like a drummer slipping out of time. That's most apparent in "Four Shrines," an old school doomer to open the album up. Next up we have "Riding on a White Horse," a Punk infused track. It's not a bad track but lacks the hooks needed to pull off the style. "Homecoming" brings back the Doom and its atmosphere. I feel like this track should be the future of the band. The vocals shine here and the music is atmospheric and somber. I believe this was the first use of vocal harmonies I've heard on the album. Think BARONESS style vocals here. "Tunnel Guard" continues this path, though with a slightly more Punk feel. "White Animal" is a softer track complete with clean guitars until halfway through the SAINT VITUS vibe returns. The clean section is sort of Steve Von Till meets DANZIG.

The rest of the album continues the Punk and Doom vibe with no surprises. I am glad I listened to this album more than once before writing this. On first listen, I was going to trash this album but after the third listen, the band has grown on me. If you like the styles listed in this review and you dislike CASKETS OPEN on first listen, I ask you to give them a chance and it may grow on you as it did me. I hope they flesh out the elements I've listed on their future albums. They could become one of my favorite bands with a few stronger hooks and tweaks but what we do have is a solid fucking album.