Boldly Stride the Doomed

Following the paths blazed by Black Sabbath and more recently walked by bands like Briton Rites and While Heaven Wept comes Pennsylvania's Argus and their second album Boldly Stride the Doomed. All the elements you want and expect from quality Doom Metal are here; heavy, downtuned guitars with a great, fuzzy sound, ponderous bass lines and the classic sound of the tritone, or Devil's interval, throughout the song structures. The powerful vocals of Brian "Butch" Balich give the songs an epic feel. Add in some fantastic lead guitar work from Jason Mucio and Erik Johnson and Argus have crafted a winner.

Unlike bands such as Candlemass or Solitude Aeturnus, Argus is not afraid to let the tempos run into the mid-range and thus avoids an album of dirges. Tracks like "A Curse on the World" and "The Ladder" bristle with Heavy Metal power. Balich's singing and Murcio and Johnson's thick, fuzzy guitars thoroughly convey the ominous and oppressive. The solos are rather more uplifting, which gives the songs great balance. But, of course, this is Doom and Argus dutifully slows things down often, culminating in the 11+ minute "Pieces of Your Smile," a bleak and somber paean to loss. Lyrically, Boldly Stride the Doomed is perhaps a bit less complicated than Argus' peers, but they can stand toe-to-toe musically with anyone.

Excellent Heavy/Doom Metal abounds on Boldly Stride the Doomed. Metal fans of all stripes should check it out. You will not be disappointed. Recommended.