NAEVUS - Back Home review

 

NAEVUS - Back Home

Dying Victims Productions

Doom Metal from Germany yeah you don't hear that often if at all. Which is why this release peaked my interest immediately. Just for the record NAEVUS originally started out back in early 1990's. They came out with their debut full length, Sun Meditation, in 1998. That one came out on Rise Above Records and shocker I never heard it. Fuck Me Running!

So as far as the PR info goes the band broke up but then reformed in 2012. In 2016 they released their second full length Heavy Burden. And here we are now with their third full length. Once again reading the PR info on this four piece act. They're influenced by early US Doom aka: TROUBLE, PENTAGRAM, SAINT VITUS & THE OBSESSED.

So after a lackluster one and a half minute intro I'm hearing something decent. NAEVUS's title cut is pure TROUBLE / THE SKULL worship but in a good way. Uwe Groebel (vocalist / guitarist) has those cool clean vocal chops that remind ya of Eric Wagner (RIP). As the album progresses you hear song structures that rip from memories you had of the past. 

Trust me on this one, NAEVUS are not a copycat band. On the contrary they have been handed a gift of influences and proceed to follow that because the original is gone. That TROUBLE with another singer sucks. And that new SKULL / Eric Wagner tribute act is OK. They had a good album last year. But what you have here is cool as fuck. 

I mean blast "The Dead Don't Sleep", "Under a Different Sky" or "Angels Never Come" and tell me that the fingers of TROUBLE era Doom don't touch you on the forehead. Yeah this album is a winner in my not so humble opinion. I'm sure Eric Wagner, where ever he is, approves of NAEVUS. I know I do. As far as the cover artwork goes I'm not a fan.

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/back-home

LEGIONS OF DOOM - The Skull 3 review

LEGIONS OF DOOM - The Skull 3

Tee Pee Records

Well they could've called themselves Super Group of Doom because essentially that's what we have here. I mean check out this fuckin line-up. You've got Ron Holzner former bassist for TROUBLE and THE SKULL. Guitarist Lothar Keller also from THE SKULL plus guitarist Scott Little from LEADFOOT. Add to that you've got Henry Vasquez from SAINT VITUS on drums. But the crowning point is that you've got two vocalists sharing duties on different songs. There's Scott Reagers from SAINT VITUS and Karl Agell formerly of LEADFOOT and Blind era CORROSION OF CONFORMITY.

Yeah with a line-up like that it's like a Doom contact high. Now in all honesty I've never been a huge fan of super groups especially when it comes to Metal. Also months ago I got an email stating that this band was touring Europe under the guise of a tribute to Eric Wagner. OK fine ya need the money but you're still a tribute band playing TROUBLE / THE SKULL covers. That's not my thing I wouldn't go see em. To me the legacy of Eric Wagner ends with his last official work aka his solo album 2022's In the Lonely Light of Mourning.

So at first after giving this a few listens I thought it was decent but I had so many reservations being against it. Then twenty-four hours passed by and a couple of more listens went by. After that I think there is some greatness to this album and it was a surprise to me. As much as I like the tracks where Scott Reagers sings on. I actually like the songs with Karl Agell singing better. 

I mean Ron Holzner and Lothar Keller could've just continued THE SKULL with Karl Agell on vocals and it would be cool. The Scott Reagers songs on here are down-tuned to a SAINT VITUS level. Sure I like em but Scott go back to SAINT VITUS. Karl Agell rules on this one. A special note is that on this release the band included a Eric Wagner song from his first solo album in 2015. The song is called "Heaven". I don't care what you think but that's a fitting tribute to a great man. Great job guys this is great doom.

https://teepeerecords.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izlAVA9xtxw

ERIC WAGNER - In The Lonely Light of Mourning review

ERIC WAGNER - In The Lonely Light of Mourning

Cruz Del Sur Music

In the summer of 2021 the Doom Metal universe lost one of it's greatest voices. Eric Wagner the singer/frontman of TROUBLE, The SKULL and BLACKFINGER passed away in August of that year. If you were into his music then you know his passing was a major loss. He will not be forgotten by us fans. This solo album he did was completed and delivered to the label a month before his untimely death. It was supposed to come out in November 2021 but the release date was moved to March 2022.

 

From what I've read this solo album was very important to Eric. It was a work in progress for a number of years. He brought in friends/former band mates from the Doom metal community to help out. As far as they go you've got drummer Dave Snyder from TROUBLE and BLACKFINGER. Dave was also co-writer on a number of these tunes. Then there's guitarist Chuck Robinson also from TROUBLE, BLACKFINGER and the THE SKULL. Bassist Sean McAllister from TROUBLE. Bassist Ron Holzner who was also in TROUBLE and the SKULL. Also there's Victor Griffin from PENTAGRAM. 

 

Listening to this, now a posthumous release, was kinda tough since Eric hasn't even been gone for a year. To make matters worse there are too many songs that reference death. Sure it's doom but some songs just cut too close to the reality of Eric's passing. For example opener "Rest in Piece" is a great song in the whole TROUBLE /THE SKULL tradition. But damm it hits ya. Obviously most of this album is filled with material which will appeal to long time fans. There's only a few cuts which take on a melancholy approach. "If You Lost It All" with cello player Brian Gaona almost sounds like Bowie. The title cut follows suit in it's mournful approach. It's also a highlight of the album.

In The Lonely Light of Mourning is an amazing release and sadly the last one of original material we'll ever hear again from Eric Wagner. 

https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/store/

LISTEN HERE:

https://ericwagner.bandcamp.com/album/wagner-in-the-lonely-light-of-mourning