### Below: Across the dark river

#### 15/05/14 || gk

Swedish doom metal band Below has been making some noise in the doom metal scene. After a split with fellow Swedish doomsters Anguish in 2013, “Across the dark river” is the band’s debut full length. This is some straight up traditional Swedish doom metal relying heavily on the first 3 Candlemass albums for much of its inspiration.

The album opens with “Trapped under ground” and the song has a main riff that is pure Candlemass at the height of its late 80s glory but a passionate performance from vocalist Zeb lifts the song above the mediocre. “Ghost of a shepherd” has a melody that is sort of like a slowed down power metal song while Portal is probably the best song here with its slow build up and a memorable vocal line that again has a severe Candlemass hangover but just about manages to stand on its own. “The whitechapel murders” is pretty fucking heavy with another vocal line that is more power metal than doom and the album closes with the epic title track “Across the dark river” which has another solid vocal line and an epic narrative sweep to the lyrics that makes it stand out.

While there really isn’t anything particularly special about the songs themselves, the band is a solid bunch of musicians the songs are held together by vocalist Zeb who throws in a passionate performance and might just be another great Swedish heavy metal vocalist in the making although he’s more Mats Leven than Messiah Marcolin. Produced by Andy La Rocque, “Across the dark river” benefits from a warm and rich sound with each instrument bearing a clear and distinct voice. The problem though lies in the songwriting. At times, the songs get a little too close to early Candlemass. There’s also little variation here and occasionally the album just drifts along with individual songs making little impression.

It feels like Below are still searching for their own voice. There’s plenty of promise here and the band should appeal to fans of Candlemass or even Tony Martin era Black Sabbath but it’s going to be the second album that will determine exactly where this band will end up. For now though, “Across the dark river” makes Below a band to keep an eye on but this is not quite an essential purchase.

- Information
- Released: 2014
- Label: Metal Blade
- Website: Below Facebook
- Band
- Zeb: vocals
- Paud: guitars
- Berg: guitars
- Hedman: bass
- Doc: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Trapped Under Ground
- 02. Bid You Farewell
- 03. Ghost of a Shepherd
- 04. Portal
- 05. In My Dreams
- 06. Mare of the Night
- 07. The Whitechapel Murder
- 08. Across the Dark River