In some moments in the history of Metal and Rock, some mutations came up and the rules of a musical genre were changed. Since the 90's, when SOUNDGARDEN and MONSTER MAGNET arose from underground, Stoner Rock/Metal gained a proper way to be, the way that its deeper features were set. But since then, many and many names arose to make things on their way, and the Lusitanian duo SON OF CAIN is another one who comes to make things in the band's own way, as "Closer to the Edge" shows.

It's not a complicated thing to describe their music: it's a fusion between Doom Metal and traditional Heavy Metal, but it sounds not like BLACK SABBATH earlier works. It sounds like a mix between MOTORHEAD and SOUNDGARDEN playing with into a slower and melodic way, but still crude and energetic. Yes, it's crude (it's a Stoner/Doom Metal album, keep it in mind), but with all that uncompromised and energetic feeling that Lemmy and his gang brought to Metal since the 70s. And yes, it's truly good.

On the sound quality of "Closer to the Edge", it sounds raw and organic, but not like those albums that the listener can't understand a single note or beat that is being played. It can be understood without great efforts, because the band had a production that made the dirty tunes be only on the musical instruments, and not on the sound quality. And besides it's not perfect, it sounds good, indeed.

The charming crudeness of "Hit the Road" (a song with a simple technical approach, but with excellent melodies and guitars), the Sabbath driven tempos of "Born to Fall", the nasty melodies of "Beyhond", the Groove melodic scent of "The Old Man", and the bitterness of "Dead Corner Bastard" (very good vocals and rhythmic work) are the best songs of "Closer to the Edge", but the band can offer more for the fans.

For now, "Closer to the Edge" is a good album, but SON OF CAIN really has musical talent enough to make better music. The future seems great for the duet.