Orchid - The Mouths of Madness

***

Awesome Album from Californian Doomsters!!!

Having reviewed their 'Heritic' EP last year I was looking to hearing this new full length from Orchid. There's nothing new here per say just the band continuing to do what their loved for. Opening with the title track which is an upbeat rocker which sticks in your head long after the first listen. It can't be avoided the Black Sabbath comparisons. As we all know the first eight Black Sabbath albums are Doom's blueprint and the sound is throughout this album. 'Silent One' is a nice mid paced rocker which starts with a nice groove which leads to a slow driving riff with Theo Mindell's soaring vocals. There is a great 70's sound in the production and a loose jam feel which is nice too.

The problem comes with repeated listens. At first you hear Black Sabbath-y parts and you think "oh cool" but after a few spins 1) you hear no other influence 2) there are parts which are totally reminiscent of Black Sabbath songs. This is most common in the first thirty seconds of the song. 'Wizard of War' for example is a direct copy of 'Symptom of the Universe'. You forgive it at first because it is an enjoyable, upbeat listen but after four or five spins you end up thinking "I might as well put the real thing on" As stated earlier Black Sabbath is the blueprint for Doom but most Doom bands have took it to different levels and made the sound their own. Cathedral being a prime example. But there is building on ones influences and theres regurgitation.

All in all it's one of the more upbeat Doom albums. It's worth a listen and the title track is a great song, this is a band that might not be original but they have something to offer that any fan of Stoner or Black Sabbath would love.

Review by Joe Denby 

Listen! to the title Track off the new album 'Mouths of Madness' Below...