Artist: BELOW
Album: ACROSS THE DARK RIVER (CD)

Year: 2014
Media type: CD

Just recently Swedish BELOW have been on tour to support Norwegian band Devil. The rather simple structure and Venom orientated headliner probably did not enjoy that tour too much. The young Doom hopefuls just stole their show, including „Headless Cross“, a Black Sabbath cover. Their debut „Across The Dark River“ created the attention of Metal Blade Records who immediately offered  the band a deal which they signed as quickly. Which the band also states  on stage, by the way. BELOW unites the best of many worlds. There is obvious borrowings from Black Sabbath from their mentioned „Headless Cross“ era. There is this voice which reminds you on Tony Martin. Also there is a production straight on the border to bombast, which is never beeing crossed. There is tender melodies and the thickest walls of guitars you could think of. There is choruses which are not just added to the songs , but they do cut their way through into your brain! As obvious are parallels to Candlemass especially as BELOW never stop to include easy disharmonies. And finally they are tending to dramatic arts with elements such as background choires borrowed from the King (no, not that one). That makes the songs slightly more catchy and more serious than a Mercyful Fate record. „Across The Dark River“ has been recorded in Andy LaRocque’s Sonic Train Studio, as if this should underline that. This may be just another debut album. But because it is perfect it’s way more than that already. By the end of the year and beyond this album will be remembered!

TRACKLIST:

1 Trapped under ground
2 Bid you farewell
3 Ghost of a shepherd
4 Portal
5 In my dreams
6 Mare of the night
7 The whitechapel murderer
8 Across the dark river