Black Magick Rites

It's been 8 years since the last Hour of 13 release, the rather lackluster 333, and it seemed like maybe that was it for this band. Now a one-man act, Chad Davis has returned to Shadow Kingdom Records for the long-awaited fourth Hour of 13 doom-fest, Black Magick Rites. This is a welcome slab of old-school Doom that sounds classic without imitating any one band. The sound is organic and heavy without sounding too self-consciously retro, and even though Davis recorded everything himself, you'd never know it. Without the ubiquitous Phil Swanson, Davis has had to do the vocals himself, and he really does a creditable job. If you like Hour of 13 or occult Doom Metal in general, then this is an album to look out for.