German Heavy Metal/Epic Doom trio OLD MOTHER HELL formed in 2017. The band recently released their debut self-titled album, which contains six tracks. Opening track "Another War" could be something off of an early BLACK SABBATH record. Fuzzy and low-tuned guitars pound slowly but forcefully into the earth, creating earthquakes in their path. The vocals are emotive and with a good deal of vibrato, sounding something like the second coming of Jim Morrison. The song is heavily riff-driven and straight forward moving. "Mountain" is a lumbering affair, thick with the greyness of Doom and gloom. It picks up pace about half way through, trucking along with fervor and purpose.

"Narcotic Overthrow" reminds me of a galloping IRON MAIDEN song. The heavy riff and drumming drive the song, with expressive vocals. "Howling Wolves" opens with a slow grind, but picks up pace quickly with another thunderous guitar riff. They sure have the heavy side of Metal down pat. Remember how a journalist described Jimi Hendrix's sound as "heavy metal falling from the sky? That is the sense that you have here as well. "Kneel to No God" has a more depressing lament. At times, a weighted riff pummels you like fists reigning down on your head, but at other times it drops down a bit into a more pensive and thoughtful message.

The eight minute beast "Old Mother Hell" closes the album. It has some subtle Power Metal elements to go along with the Classic Heavy Metal sound. It's something that you just can't help bobbing your head/headbanging along to. But when you think the heaviness won't let up, there is a softer passage that segues into a highly emotional section that seems to pull all of the elements together with "Old mother Hell, save our souls." The riffs on this album are both monstrous, and contagious. They aren't necessarily anything that you haven't heard before, but man does the band play them with confidence. If you have a hankering for some Old School revival, give OLD MOTHER HELL a spin.