WALL OF SLEEP is a band that has everything going for it. Their name is an obvious reference to the almighty BLACK SABBATH. Their label (psycheDOOMelic) has put out tons of great stuff. Doom living legend WINO even guest stars on this, their latest release. WALL OF SLEEP should be the greatest band ever, right? Wrong.

I was first introduced to these cats on one of their previous records, the woefully titled "Slow But Not Dead." The overproduction, mechanical performances, and brightly technical guitar flourishes on that record, to my ears, owed more to VAN HAGAR than to BLACK SABBATH. Still, with all the potential they had, and with all the good buzz I kept hearing about them, I held out hope that their next release would be something special. Sadly, "Sun Faced Apostles" is mostly business as usual for these guys.

The performances and production are as bright and crystal-clear as ever, if not more so than the last disc. Songs meander for 5+ minutes, never really catching fire. The only member who "keeps it real" to my estimation is vocalist Gabor Holdampf. His deep, foreboding vocals, reminiscent of Eli Brown from the great, under-appreciated BLOOD FARMERS, are at total odds with the up-tempo, damn-near "happy" sounding music on this disc. Not even Wino, who lends his guitar work to "From the Bottom of These Days" can get them going in the right direction. The final track "Mother Sand and Father Stone" is the saving grace. Here, the band brings the tempo down and starts to sound almost evil! Unfortunately, it's too little, too late.

As much as I didn't care for this disc, I'm still hopeful these lads can get it together. If only they could slow things down, and get a little dirt under the fingernails, we could have something brilliant. Me? Optimistic? Who'da thunk it!?!

- Broadbent

OFFICIAL SITE: www.wallofsleep.net

RELATED ITEMS: WALL OF SLEEP - "Slow But Not Dead", 2004