Royal Talons

Royal Talons play that interesting form of doom that, while epic in sound, also manages to be unpretentious and in an unusual way, laidback. That could be thanks to nods to the softer side of Yob found in tripped-out sections such as the interlude to "D-Day Spell." The generally repetitive plod that pervades the album also maintains an air of vastness, both sonically and conceptually, which jives well alongside anything Al Cisneros has ever been involved with. The vocal style of the aforementioned heavy music legend is also undoubtedly an influence for this band, with refreshing clean vocals coming out from the void at varying and unpredictable points. The vocals are a highlight, wisely straying from the often one-dimensional path common to this style, featuring textures, from animal-like growls to the aforementioned disembodied melodies, all the way to massive group vocals on album closer "Western Path."