The supergroup is a concept where established musicians come together to make new (or mostly new) music together. Some manage to make it their biggest project, like THE RAT PACK, some are relegated to career footnotes like everyone in DAMN YANKEES, and others die so hard you regret everything about them, like VELVET REVOLVER.

Today we're not on to such star power, but there's enough talent to fill the sky with hellfire as the Swedish/German coalition behind LUCIFER release the spartanly titled "Lucifer IV", another in a long line of modern bands flying the varied banners of heavy Classic Rock. For their fourth album, the now-quintet have put together something familiar but devastating, setting it well above their prior outings while retaining a consistently heavy and rocking approach.

The comparisons to the contemporaries like GHOST are easy, and getting into the influential notes makes for a pretty good playlist on its own. Right from the rocking opener "Archangel Of Death", you get a big shot of BUDGIE vibes, a bass-heavy Doom Rock to get the knees knocking and the hair shaking, a trend which continues into "Wild Hearses".

After that comes a bit more radio friendly material, and mind you, not pop friendly. For the same reasons "Dreamboat Annie" did well for HEART, songs such as "Crucifix (I Burn For You), "Bring Me His Head", and "Louise" could easily find a home in the rotations of satellite radio or in the hands of metal podcasters in need of good material.

A far heavier and doomy effort is put in for "Cold As A Tombstone", and especially for the album's longest track, "Nightmare", whose already spooky path is amplified in silence by a truly disturbing break which is so abrupt it feels like an error. When the song picks up again the listener can't be blamed for being half a step behind in their breathing.

The organ-entwined "Mausoleum" provides just the lightest touch of Psychedelic into the fold, something they also dabble in for the closer, "Phobos". The latter closes things with a few measures of multi-layered chaos before fading out on a ripping cosmic guitar whine.

There are some significant comparisons to fellow Swedes and contemporary classic rockers HEAVY FEATHER. They both do a damn good job recreating classic vibes, both have singing valkyries for frontwomen, but the divergence in styles seems like a repeat of the old ZEPPELIN V. SABBATH debate. Perhaps the most diplomatic description would be that, were the Gods of Rock so generous that both bands were at the same outdoor festival, HEAVY FEATHER should go on while the sun is setting, but LUCIFER should go on after it gets dark.

There's not a whole lot to dislike about "Lucifer IV" unless you're averse to the revival of old heavy Doom Rock. No trailblazing is done here, although regular blazing can't be ruled out. That can make some of the songwriting feel a bit formulaic, but consider that a formula fitted with proper variables can lead to a positive conclusion. And for forty-five minutes, LUCIFER works all the numbers with devilish detail.