Ok, the band's name is clearly misleading; I was waiting for something like classic Heavy Metal with some Epic finishing touches with lyrics about bloody stories and heroic battles. Instead of all these I got dirty alcohol filled Stoner. A really surprise eh?
The story of VIKING SKULL started with local gigs (what else?) where their sound formed a solid fan base pushing them to release the six track demo Chapter One. Actually -as the bio sheet reads- this demo was recorded in two days and was released in 2004 through Grand Union Label. The band was building quite a momentum and had the chance to play live in front of bigger crowds opening for DIO, Alice Cooper and BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION among others. So, Doom, Gloom, Heartache & Whiskey is the band's fourth album and an attempt to get even bigger through Powerage Records.
The album kicks in with Start A War leaving absolutely no doubt about the music direction. Actually if you look the album title you will get a pretty description of VIKING SKULL's musical identity. Well, the 'doom' should be replaced by the whiskey soaked Stoner. Low tuned guitars, some repetitive riffs and a lot of attitude are the main elements here. Bands I can think while listening to this one are Greek's NIGHTSTALKER, of course SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, maybe BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and definitely KYUSS. Of course if you dig deeper then you will discover BLACK SABBATH's signature in the rhythmic vibes and the faster breaks like in the homonymous track. You can bang you head with the groovy In Hell and Shot Down while you should fill your glasses with whiskey, beer or both during Hair Of The Dog and the fast 19 Swords. The album closes with the 'call to arms (e.g. drinks)' song Drink; this song lasts six minutes and a half, is piano driven and features the great lyrics in the chorus that go like this: we gotta to drink 'till we shit our pants (classic). It creates images of dim lighted bars in the middle of nowhere where people come to drown their sorrows in a bottle of whiskey; hence the perfect ending to this album.
Well, you got my point on this and I believe that if don't have a problem with the Stoner-like sound then VIKING SKULL can be your drinking buddies!