Ever wonder what a counsel of wolves would sound like? Well look no further than the self titled album from WOLF COUNSEL, this is a Doom Metal album released through Dead Center Records and Doom Metal it is indeed. Slowed, heavy, blues-tastic riffs. Bass heavy, mind altering, psychedelic vocals. Literal bass heavy 4 string mastercraft and of course, the bang of the drums to pound you through this transe.

The album opening "The Gathering" begins with a ton of wolves howling and whining before leading into your first bit of doooooooooooom with "Visions." Vocally WOLF COUNSEL almost sound like a mix of Ozzy and MAYHEM's Atilla, the riffs are heavy and plenty slow and of course repetitive but that's basically Doom in a nutshell as it is. Songs like "Wolf Counsel" (yup "Wolf Counsel" off "Wolf Counsel" by WOLF COUNSEL) and more dominantly "Passages" give the album real light, taking on a sort of SLEEP presence. Although "Dopesmoker" may be a, to be completely honest, horrid album/song, there is something it does that I can almost praise had I been able to actually ever follow it without falling asleep. The story these bands can tell which "Passages" is absolutely filled with talking about castles and the like, its almost along the lines of listening to a fantasy audiobook done by a Doom Metal band.

Although stories are all sorts of fun, this is also the kind of Doom album I do enjoy, although as stated before, like most bands in the genre the music is repetitive which means vocally the album has to be saved, redeemed in a way. The alternation between almost "Where The Slime Live" (MORBID ANGEL) gutteral vocals in some songs, while others festure a more "Freezing Moon" (MAYHEM) feel at some points and your whispering, story telling vocals is a contrast needed to tell a story and keep people interested in what you have to say.

To close, this is a Doom Metal album for Doom Metal fans, it sticks close to home so it might not exactly be innovative it's good fun nonetheless. It's definitely a recommended album for anyone who likes HIGH ON FIRE and SLEEP.