Briton Rites - For Mircalla

If you thought 2010 couldn't get any better for Doom Metal releases, think again. I present to you a review of one of the best Heavy/Doom Metal albums of the year and one of the most classic albums ever made in the Traditional Old-School Doom Metal genre. The line up of Phil Swanson(vocals) from Hour of 13 fame, Howie Bentley(guitar and bass) and Corbin King(drums) have put together a monumental piece of work to rival anything else released in the genre in recent years. The mastermind behind most of the music is Howie Bentley who also played with Cauldron Born but its been 8 long years since we have been treated of his magical approach to riff-making. This is a album of real Traditional Heavy Doom, not the growling Death-Doom kind or the depressive Funeral doom kind. This is balls-out, heads down and banging all the way, slow head-banging but headbanging just the same. This is music based on tales of the occult, lovecraftian gods, vampires, fantasy...you know the good old stuff that the forefathers of Doom wrote about. Black Sabbath, Witchfinder General and their kind are obvious influences but Briton Rites takes that blueprint and not only nails the style but breathes new life into it at the same time.

What makes this riff-fest so irresistible is the incredibly delicious thick, distorted guitar sound that has a incredibly warm tone. There is also Swanson's limited but charismatic vocals, a bass sound that Geezer Butler would be proud of and then you have a thunderous drum sound that is huge but still with the finesse and feel of the very best of the 70's era Hard Rock. Its not all about fuzzy guitar though, "For Mircalla" is packed full of magical hooks, atmosphere and great crushing, suffocating heaviness that doesn't quit throughout the entire 66 minute album. The catchy irresistible hooks begin in the opening track "Carmilla", so infectious that you feel immediately that you are listening to something already within the realms of timeless classic metal. The 8 minutes seems more like 8 seconds because of the incredible nature of the riffing and melody lines and its only the first track. You have nearly a hour of monster riffs to go yet. The second track "A Meeting in the Woods" is darker, creepier but with more subtle but effective musical hooks. While the band wont win any awards for originality, it makes up for it by just delivering classic riff after classic riff. So good is the riffs, its like the feeling you got hearing "Volume 4" for the first time. The lyrics are a little cliche, a song about doing some devil worshiping in the woods is hardly breaking down any barriers but when its deliver by Phil Swanson's Ozzy-esque vocals, it has a certain timeless character about it that is golden. "Vampire Hunter, 1600" continues the onslaught of earth shattering dense riffs but it also features a bass line to die for. The blend of chugging Sabbathian riffs, Hammer horror movie type themes and the deadly atmospheric sound could be considered cheesy but hell, Witchfinder General were cheesy but awesome anyway.

"The Right Hand Of Doom" is the shortest track and its still over 6 minutes of churning, chugging riffs and blistering solo's that send you into a uncontrollable state of hypnotic neck movements. It is all served up in a bubbling cauldron with more catchy riffage and entertaining story-telling. The ten minute "The Exorcism of Tanith" is maybe the most infectious 10 minutes i have heard in years, its real hard to stay this damn catchy for so long but somehow they manage it with ease. This track is maybe the most lively track on the album but still fits in more killer, crushing, chugging riffing and majestic solos than most bands fit on a entire album. Where as a lot of Doom bands find a good riff and dragged it out for the entire length of a song, Brition Rites has so many unstoppable ideas that each monumental passage has its place and is used to perfection, no riff outstays its welcome. "All-Hallowed Vengeance" is more Sabbath worship that builds from a poetic dirge at the beginning to a indestructible up-tempo kick ass section at the end. This monster of a track is based around Richard L. Tierney’s poem of the same name. If you think if you have heard it all wait till the last installment of majestic Doom Metal which is the 13 minute final track "Karnstein Castle". This track features the vocals of Howie Bentley and they sound great, its a pity his voice wasn't used more on this album but that is a small gripe. "Karnstein Castle" is epic, majestic, enchanting and monolithic and includes some of the most massive riffing to be found on "For Mircalla". The vocals of Bentley are full of charm, deep and clean all at the same time, he has a perfect voice for Doom Metal. Like all the tracks on the disc, it has a irresistible flow that never dulls despite the extended running time. When the tune comes to a abrupt stop, you are left shattered but thrilled at hearing such a amazing album. I listen to this disc 6 hours straight when i first got it and it still left me wanting more.

This is the work of a band that understands the technical aspects of Heavy Metal songwriting but even more important they know how to structure a good tune. There is a endless amount of killer riffs but the songs themselves are epic in every conceivable way. Its also unique in blending intelligence with off-beat, quirky themes. I am guessing if criticisms do occur when people review this album, they will mostly be pointing the finger at Phil Swanson's vocals. Its true he hasn't got the most exciting vocal range in the business of Doom Metal but i dig his charismatic Doom rantings. When compared to other bands in the business of old-school Doom Metal, i think Briton Rites wins on all counts, its not a landslide but i can't think of another band who has made a such flawless album like this one. This is music that will bring a smile to the face, a musical hard-on in the pants and over a hour of pure head-banging enjoyment. Load your bong and fill the fridge with beer when you first sit down with "Briton Rites's For Mircalla" because you wont be able to turn this one off for a long time. In the field of old-school Doom Metal, this is best album I’ve heard this year so far.


1. Carmilla
2. A Meeting In The Woods
3. Vampire Hunter, 1600
4. The Right Hand Of Doom
5. The Exorcism Of Tanith
6. All Hallowed Vengence
7. Karnstein Castle


Echoes Of Crom Records
Reviewer: Ed
Jun 3, 2010
Next review: Zoroaster - Matador

Share this: