Artist: Count Raven
Album: Mammons War
Type: Album
Label: I Hate Records

I had no idea Count Raven were back on the scene, having heard no material since 1996’s ‘Messiah of Confusion’ and hearing they’d split a few years later. So imagine my joy to see that, unbeknown to me, they’d reformed in 2006 and begun writing ‘Mammons War’. For those unaware of Count Raven, imagine the likes of Sheavy mixed in with the trudging vibe of Pentagram and you have the most awesome approximation of Ozzy-era Black Sabbath in 2009 you could possibly wish for.

To be honest, hearing Ozzy’s last few solo efforts, this is a league above anything the lord of darkness has done for a long, long time. So yeah, did I mention that the first thing you really notice is that Fodde’s vocals are uncannily like 70’s Ozzy? Haha, seriously - it’s really quite unnerving at times. They slice through the fuzzing Iommi-eqsue guitarwork like a ghoulish Swedish doppelganger. There are a fair few retro-worship bands out there kicking out the same vibe (Witchcraft take it to the extreme in fact, only recording on vintage equipment to keep it as close an approximation as possible). But to these ears Count Raven have always been one of, if not THE best at what they do. Unashamedly doomy, with the riffs and songs making them sound as though the band members had uncovered some long lost Sabbath demos and re-recorded them as their own. The title track of the album incorporates a fair bit of proggy synthesiser work, making it stand out like a sore thumb amongst the plethora of Sabbath inspired music, yet it still sounds great.

If Ozzy-era Sabbath do ever re-form to release an album chock full of headbangable riffs and haunting melodies anything like this one, entire nations of people will collapse into a heap, swallowing their tongues in shock. Thinking about it, I think that’s probably the compliment that Count Raven would enjoy most. ‘Mammons War’ is not even slightly original, but that doesn’t stop it from being excellent.

http://www.myspace.com/countraventheband
http://www.ihate.se/

Lars Christiansen

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