Some bands endure to the passing of time as stones to the weather changes. They keep on, doing shows, and recording albums, despise the fact that they couldn't be a great band, but they became a cult act. To write about the Italian quartet EPITAPH is like going back in time when Doom Metal was a respected and loved Metal style, 30 years, when they, along with CANDLEMASS, WITCHFINDER GENERAL, SAINT VITUS and others ravage the world with their slow and bitter form of music. The Italian grave diggers are back with their second album, called "Claws", a fine show of what Doom Metal is about.

Funereal and dusty and the time sands, oppressive and slow, but always elegant as BLACK SABBATH showed in the past how to make Doom Metal, they are heavy and bitter as Hell, but different, playing as the forefathers of the genre, but always showing that they have personality. They show some climatic introspective parts that reinforce the bitter melancholic feeling that permeates their songs. Yes, "Claws" is a very good album, indeed, filled with emotion and darkened melodies. The recordings of "Claws" show how the band is focused on creating something heavy and truly bitter, because the tunes they had chosen are truly organic and oppressive, and as the sound quality of the album is clear enough (because they prefer a raw sound to reinforce the organic feeling of their music), allowing our comprehension. The cover is another fine piece of art with that darkened and morbid insight of the occultism.

In five long songs, these veterans shows that they still have a place in the world, especially due the moldy feeling that fills "Gossamer Claws" (with very good vocals, using an interpretation of the lyrics, not just speaking as many do), the morbid and bitter tempos of the funereal chant called "Waco the King" (that is filled with a very good work on guitars), the climatic and bitter melodies that guides "Sizigia", the long and filled with an oppressive energy song called "Wicked Lady" (with very good work from bass guitar and drums on this morbid nightmare), and the monumental weight of the musical arrangements of "Declaration of Woe". We can say that "Claws" is a compendium of how to play Doom Metal, so, thanks again that EPITAPH is still with us.