Ok, I know that the appeal of the 70s and 80s is great. But I can't understand how this passion for the past can make you form a band to emulate those days. To do such a thing, you must breathe some life on the moldy old format, and this is the main core of this matter, this is where many band fails: to copy what was already done or to create something different under old foundations is hard. Some do very good things, other flaw miserably on doing this way, so it seems to not have a midterm. But besides some evolution is needed, the Belgian quartet FIRE DOWN BELOW is doing a good work on the first full-length, called "Viper, Vixen, Goddess, Saint".

They play a mix between Stoner Rock/Metal with some influences from Groove Metal and even some Pop music influences (what explains the musical accessibility presented on their work). It reminds a lot the same style played by SOUNGARDEN, ALICE IN CHAINS and MONSTER MAGNET, but you can feel that a personality pulses on their songs, but not on an evident way. As it lacks a more personalized sound, it's just a matter of labor. Recorded by Tim De Gieter at Much Luv Studio (on Brakel, Belgium), and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege (Portland, USA), the sound quality of "Viper, Vixen, Goddess, Saint" is good, but it could be better. It sounds clear, heavy and really greasy as their musical work needs to be, but with the motivation to sound as clear as possible. On this point, everything works.

Musically, they need to mature a bit more, because as you listen to the album more times, the better you'll understand that they didn't used all their musical potential to turn their music into something great. But the catchy arrangements and very good vocals shown on "Through Dust and Smoke", the melodic scent on the middle of the greasy sound of "Roadburner", the eclectic instrumental parts and good vocals on "Universes Crumble", the "sabbathical" lessons heard on the bitter riffs of "Dashboard Jesus", and the eleven minutes of a lysergic voyage of "The Mammoth" are proofs that they are a promising name. For now, "Viper, Vixen, Goddess, Saint" is a good album, but in the future, they must turn their musical potential in something more personalized.