Patriarchs in Black : "Home"

We are venturing into the project with two music legends, Johnny Kelly of Type O Negative fame, and guitarist Dan Lorenzo, who played in the groundbreaking Non-Fiction.  The first two songs are blues-based doom tunes, the opening track featuring Kyle Thomas of Exhorder, who belts it out in his trademark husky soulful swagger. This is a strong song that only holds marginal Sabbath influence in the verse riff. "The Call" which finds Karl Agell from "Blind" era C.O.C., taking the mic, makes me think of Tony Martin; he belts it out in a more nuanced manner than what you might expect from him. Midway into the song, he picks up more of Dio's snarl, as the pace picks up.

Mark Sunshine brings a more unique vocal color to "Burn Through Time". It's higher, making me think a little of the '90s band Collision.  "Frisson" is a more delicate interlude with strings moving the melody. "Kaos" finds things getting much heavier with a more nu-metal groove, as the vocals take on a harsher bark. Joe Ferrarra sings his ass off on 'Storm King" which is back in the more traditional metal style of doom. Things get darker and more melodic on "Celestial Yard" which finds Mark Sunshine returning to delivery an even more nuanced performance. 

"Where Do You Think You're Going" features DMC from rap legends Run DMC, taking the verses, as operatic vocals hover in the background amid many sonic layers to create a rich tapestry of sound. John Kosco from Revel at Dusk, lends his voice to " Beline" which finds itself at the sorrowful intersection of grunge and doom. Mark Sunshine, who is one of the album's main vocalists, now with three songs on this album, returns to a vocal delivery similar to his first appearance on "Pointed Fire."  They take a slight turn to a more rock n roll feel for the blues-based"Enough of You" with Frankie Diaz on vocals. Then they go into a more old-school Biohazard style of NYHC for "Ready To Die"  that has Kelly Abe from "Kaos" on the track. 

"Shadow Grasp" is the song that comes closest to Kelly's Type O Negative past, though I can hear at other points in the album where Non-Fiction's groundbreaking work is referenced, thanks to Dan's forward-thinking playing. Mark Sunshine returns to close the album with the doomier boogie of "Sweet Blood". I will give this album a 9.5, and see how it continues to grow on me, but would say it's one of the year's best doom-minded albums without finding itself too confined to the genre. 

To see my interview with the band, click the link below... as well as "like" and subscribe to stay current on when other interviews with your favorite artists and paranormal / geek culture experts!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBWoOWEqFPI&t=31s

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