BLACK SABBATH VOL. 4: THE CVLT NATION SESSIONS

The Fam over Cvlt Nation has released another tribute session. I like these because they always give me a chance to check bands I have not heard before. The first of these being Potion. First impressions being rough because the more I like the band the more critical ear I listen with. I like the guitar sound it's dense and still trippy. Not trying to cop from Tony Iommi. It's a tricky balance when trying to cover Sabbath. Yoiu want to give it your own spin, but these guys invented heavy metal so the stakes are high. The thing about Sabbath, is that they are very similar to how I feel about the Smiths. While I love the band, I have even greater love for Morrissey, if he is singing with them or not. Sure the solo albums might not live up to the classics of their bands , but it's hard to capture their sound without the distinctive vocals. I do not need an Ozzy impersonation. I do need you to hit the notes. I think hitting notes might not be the what this singer normally goes for as they have a more throaty tone, but they do go for it .

Yarrow does a much better job of hitting the notes. Though the change the tone of the song , by making it slower. It still works. They do throw in a bit of the song "Black Sabbath" . Which is more of their thing, Drug Cult handles changes in more of a Tori Amos fashion. "f/x" was always a fast forward classic, Bongripper just makes it a longer one. There is more off a deathly sludge to Oryx's attack upon "Supernaut". The vocals are a little grating , but the guitars are cool.   Mindkult gives a more sludgey southern rock feel to "Snowblind". The vocals are sung and certainly work on the verses. It is when it gets to the bridge that you hear this guy has not much in the way of power or range. Hearing covers like this also shine light on what and under rated singer Ozzy was. Of course only Ozzy is to blame for letting the emphasis be  put on his maniacal acts rather than his pipes.

CHRCH offers up a very dense take on "Cornucopia". The vocals sit way back in the mix until they go into a harsher scream. In places their version is slower and heavier. The snarl of the vocals sets the tone for the rest of the song. Sea Witch offers a more fuzzed out take on "Laguna Sunrise"  another song that is more of an interlude for me, (16) does a really good job with "St. Vitus Dance". They make an effort to sing even if it is from behind a veil of effects. Yidhra also dopes a pretty comparable job with " Under the Sun". I will give this one a 9. It is certainly one of the better albums like this Cvlt Nation has tackled.

7.2

Yidhra : " Cult Of Bathory"

As the end of the year best of lists loom over me I am leaving no stoner unturned in my search for what is truly the best this year had to offer. From the opening riff there is not a lot to separate this band from countless other Sabbath worshippers , the throaty vocals bellow much like a less soul infused version of Clutch. They have a bit of sonic weight during the jammy solo section, but does this make the song ? The groove to "Iron Mountain" is a little more convincing , it also holds shadows of Kyuss to it's desert plodding. The song really breaks out of the genre's confines when it wanders out on a more progressive ledge midway into the song. Their is some impressive atmospheric guitar playing that is still blues based. The drummer also has a little more room to shine when not encumbered by the weight of having to be heavy. Honest music comes natural and nothing is more awkward is some one trying to play heavy stuff when that is not in their soul. The heavier playing is more effective given this breathing room so it has more of a kick when they blare back into it.

"The Adversary" starts of with this looser jam feel. The vocals show vast improvement when they are more sun than put in the throatier tone. Their singer is not convinced of this as the song goes back and forth between the two during the verses. I am not sure their hearts are really into the doom thing as this eps best moment is also its most up tempo on "Reign of Terror". The vocals once again fight the urge to go back into the throaty belting. So heavy stoner rock might be the best way to brand this sort of thing. They do slow down into a really powerful riff at the songs midway point, but if you are a regular reader you know that what qualifies a band as being doom in our books here isn't how slow you play but how woeful the mood you create is . Does it invoke a mournful or sorrowful response? The answer here is no...but I can see wanting to fire up the bong to it for sure. In the final moments things get darker and more intense with the building chug, but not doomy.

This album improves as it moves along, if you like your stoner room with some jammy doom leanings then this album is worth your time. The first song was just ok didn't really do a helluva lot for me and the vocals can be hit or miss for me so I'll give this one a 7, if you are looking for something new and mediocre vocals aren't that big of a deal breaker for you then pack a bowl and saddle up to this one.