Doom Metal arose in the 80's. It was a very good try to rescue the older and bitter BLACK SABBATH musical features from Ozzy era. The slow paced tempos, that musical bitterness that could make shivers in our spines, that feeling. These features enchanted members from bands like TROUBLE, WITCHFINDER GENERAL, CANDLEMASS, and many more into Metal scene. But this rescue opened a new door into Metal scene, created Doom Metal and gave a little push to Stoner Metal to appear some years later. That charming way brought many Metallians into the scene, and bands like Swedish quartet STONEGRIFF could appear. Their new album, "Come Taste the Blood", is a fine work.

In many parts of the album, you'll find the musical influences of BLACK SABBATH (both on Ozzy and Dio eras), but be careful: these guys present a very personalized work, besides it is nothing new at all. Very good vocals (with a very personal tune, let me say that, with some really astonishing screams), heavy and abrasive riffs (the guitar seems to be tuned by Tony Iommi himself), and a pretty heavy rhythmic basis. All in their places to create a good work.

The sound quality is almost perfect, being polite and nasty in the way the band needs, but entirely clear and heavy. But when we see Andy LaRocque's name doing the production, mixing, and mastering the album it's nothing really new. He is a fine professional of the area.

Seven funeral marches are presented in the album, all of them very good. But we could point the bitter and heavy grasp of "Come Taste the Blood" (with very good and bitter vocals, using some pretty good melodies), "You're Never Alone" and its charming groove (where bass and drums makes the greater difference), the slower of all songs, "Brother Cain", and the hymn to the style "In Doom We Trust" (very fine vocals once more) as the best moments of the album.

They're a very good band, and have a pretty good future.<