Graveyard

Proving, refreshingly, that not all Gothenburg metal sounds like "Gothenburg metal," Graveyard are set to impress on Hisingen Blues, with the band sounding more confident and self-assured on album number two, their first for Nuclear Blast. "Ain't Fit to Live Here" starts things off with a quick, hard retro-rock blast, like a good hit of Blue Cheer, with that great, natural production immediately pleasing the ears. Then, a bold move: second track "No Good, Mr. Holden" is a relaxed, slow, bluesy proto-doom number ― something that could potentially kill the album's flow ― but the band pull it off perfectly. Later on, "Buying Truth (Tack och Förlåt)" brings the cowbell, the Simmons vocals, the great licks ― it brings a bit of KISS to the party. And, again, they pull it off. Graveyard bring the best of classic rock, the best of Free and the best of the least Southern Skynyrd moments and wrap them up in Sabbath and Pentagram worship. The end result is way more sincere than much of the current retro stoner doom ― this feels like it was actually recorded in the '70s. Need further proof of this album's awesomeness? Check out the closing riff of the title track. Rock on.