By driven guitars and a weighing ambiance of infernal punishment, Doom musicians have always inspired the metal community with their sense of despair and their slow, dramatic, signature. For the style is recognizable by its thicker and groovier tone, the darkness deriving from the impending instrumentals evokes a feeling of power. Through time and innovation, Doom has merged into an interesting concoction of heavy, yet vibrant. With its colorful riffs and creative tempo works, the label went from something gloom to a bluesy, psychedelic, Stoner label. Mixing a concentrated dose of heavy metal elements, all the way to Acid Rock, the slow-to-mid tempo joined to the laden sound, the distorted and languishing melodies and the general heaviness all together bring back an old school, groovy vibe.

Lead into the world with their first release ''In Witch Order'', the San Francisco established formation CASTLE quickly gained renown as a force to reckon with. Thriving on the label of Witch Thrash, the American trio could easily pass for an occultist, black magic oriented cult band. With two more critically acclaimed records to their credit (Stoner-rock product ''Blacklands'' and the dark ''Under Siege''), the band easily proved to their modest, yet growing public how refinement and maturity could also construct something as brutal as raw. Now offering the world a limited 7'' vinyl edition of new EP ''Deadhand Hexagram'', the group here reveals two distinctly different pieces. Equally great, the eponymous track and the ''Be My Ghost'' reprise from ''Under Siege'' build an atmosphere of melody and distortion.

The profound tone for the opening track leads on with an interesting clean, yet distorted guitar. With a clear, simple and catchy riff, CASTLE paradoxically offer a light, galloping eight-note track, contrary to their usual heaviness. If the rhythm comes off as a bit too rapid for Doom, the round tone perfectly suits the grooving Stoner vibe every fan of the genre praises. Repetitive but filled up with interpretation, the four minute long ''Deadhand Hexagram'' gives a Rock-ish, Bay Area feeling. Polished by a bass picking tone and a solid drum structure, Elizabeth's powerful, haunting voice seduces you right off the bat. Low and mesmerizing, the vibrant tremolos and high notes sure soothe the ear. Topped by a silky, clear guitar solo and a classic tempo change to rapid and bouncy, the melodic sections of the tune also offer a satisfying harmony build up, creating a duo between voice and guitar.

If the first track gave no contrast of accents and pitch, the reprise for ''Be My Ghost'' serves the purpose of diversity. Dark, haunting, nostalgic, the usually solid and confident track emanates an eerie spirit, halfway between uplifting and impending. With its funeral distorted guitar slowly expressing sadness, the echoed voice cries. Through blowing winds and uplifting violin arrangements, the ballade completely differs from the rolling drums and punched out aggressive chords the track expressed on the previous release "Under Siege". Still as distorted, the buildup in the reprise is softer, for the raging guitar solo is subtracted from the reprise and the general rapid skills fade through a more equally consistent sound. Nevertheless, the emotions transmitted through the reprise do justice to the title of the song, drawing a ghostly and foggy atmosphere...

Grounded with strength and potential, CASTLE could easily take over the Stoner Rock/Doom Metal industry, for the universe these three madmen offer is filled with authenticity and creativity.