Shrinebuilder 2009

"I have always had a problem with the term "stoner doom", wondering how something can be both stoned and doom-ladden. Having heard Pentagram's releases, I have started to appreciate this term, theough, and this release by Shrinebuilder has proved to be yet a lesson in the possibility of "stoner doom".

The stylistic anchor is undoubtedly doom metal with its heavy beats, slow tempos and overall desperate and oppressive atmosphere. But this is accompanied by a sludgy sound and dark and heavy blues-based patterns and solos as well as some dynamic fill-in rich drumming akin to that of the "hippie" drummers of the heavy psychedelic rock acts of the 70s.

Some of the riffage is incredibly heavy such as much of the riffage of "Solar Benediction", the crushing main riff of "Pyramid of the Moon" and the riff in the bridge of "The Science of Anger", while other riffage is more sludgy and blues-based. a track like "Blind for All to See" has and incredibly stoned feel to it, and all the tracks are darkly groovy.

This release should, with its dark and heavy psychedelia, appeal to fans of early Sabbath, Pentagram and St. Vitus, and, while the genre is a very different one, those who appreciat ethe dark psychedelia of the first two Psychotic Waltz releases might also like this.

(review originally posted on metalmusicarchives.com)"