Oh my god! What was that? That noise - the wind? A dog barking? No, it’s the BOOGIEMAN! I just got the debut CD from BOOGIEMAN, and I am here to tell you fair people that this noise is erie and damn good.

This Swedish foursome knows how to lay the fat guitar down while keeping focused. You know how some bands record so that the vocals are way back in the mix, and the music can't get to you because of all the guitar in the way? These guys have twisted their own knobs along with Johan Rieven, to come up with a sound that compliments their amazing song style -- a scratchy voice floating on riffs that will definitely make your neck sore. BOOGIEMAN has only been together for two years, but in so many ways this release sounds like a bunch of veterans from the Swedish scene. The instrumental "Yellow Sea" starts off with cello, creating a somber mood for the coming bass lines. Some incoherent mumbling in the background adds an even more evil overtone to an already dark song, some spoken-word vocals and slow drum beats. The crown prince of the record has to be the song "14 Pictures" sporting a doomy twist to the band's groovy formula. This disc is so good that I decided to play triple sixes on the lottery this week and was arrested for devil worship. Let me tell you, I have not sacrificed a goat since POSSESSED's "Beyond the Gates" came out (well, a couple of cats maybe). If fuzzed-out guitars like this don't move you, you must be dead. Buy this record!

- Murtaugh

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