Band : Mountain Of Judgement
Album Title : Mountain Of Judgement
Label : RAIG
Distributor :
Release Date : March 2010
Review : CD

With assistance of Scott Isenhour (synths), Matt Johnson (synths), Dave Easter (drums) and Scott Cline (bass), Mountain Of Judgement is yet another side project from US Christmas/Hour of 13 (read review 21/03/06) guitar/vocal/synth-master mind Chad Davis.

“Neptunes reign” , “The witch” and “Magic eye”  are slave to the Electric Wizard/Sleep/Sabbath-monstrous claustrophobic riffs and guitars buzz in an emphatic low-tuned whirl, surprisingly reliable groovy drumming, brief bursts of speed, mid-tempo marches and a narcotic-dazed synth deleriuim pervading the gloomy passages. The hypnotic intermission is a definite plus, as is the part that shows psychedelia as an influence. Bubbling synths lead the way on “Bringer of infinity”  until the Novadriver-ish outbreaks occur which are fantastic! “Globule’s” sustained druggy atmosphere brings Ash Ra Tempel/Hawkwind to mind. “The burning stone” brings back the heaviness, and again has some twisted sounds running around underneath the down tuned, filthy sounding groove stabs on guitars.

Mountain Of Judgement’s reliance on bulldozer grooves, stoned-out synths and pounding rhythms does pay off, as the band seems to find an interesting point of equilibrium in their psychedelic doom style. Regardless of whether they are approaching ultra-heavy doom dirges or lighter, airy passages, the music is exceptionally strong.

90/100

Cosmicmasseur.