For some reason I love compilations by independent labels. I bought tons of em as a wee young headbanger, churned out by labels such as Heavy Metal Records, Shrapnel, Metal Blade, Ebony Records etcetera… and that’s only the heavy metal stuff!

Now Catacomb Records is a new British label that dedicates itself to all that is stoner, psychedelic, doom, sludge and retro fuzz. It was started by two musicians who play in various bands and who are more importantly fans of this music. According to the info on the Catacomb website this compilation features 17 of the best stoner, doom and psychedelic rock bands playing around the world today. True? Well, why don’t we do a song-by-song review to find out?

1. SUNS OF THUNDER - "Gimme Some More" : One of the few bands on this comp I actually knew already. Great combination of hard riffing and Hammond organ. Sorta like an up tempo version of SPIRITUAL BEGGARS. Very good opener.

2. OUTBURST – "Primitive" : Not to be confused with the Dutch thrash band of the same name. Nope, these are Brits too and their sound is more straight up doom. Nothing too original but good for what it is.

3. OBIAT - "Farewell to Mankind" : More Brits. Well, although they are based in London they actually are a multinational 4 piece (their myspace says "Poland, Hungary, Italy, UK") and their sound is a little more modern, akin to TOOL or a heavier FUGAZI. Interesting.

4. GRIFTER - "Slow Boy" : OK, let’s be clear here: the website info says “bands playing around the world today”, not bands from all over the world, because these guys are Brits too. This is a cool combination of doom and cowbell-driven groove rock. Production-wise it could have used a little more body but the song itself isn’t bad.

5. DIRTYRED - "War is Made By Gentlemen" : OK, now it’s getting interesting. Not only is this the first US band on the comp, they also have a female singer/guitarist. Their drummer is called Armando Acosta. Yes, that Armando Acosta who used to play in SAINT VITUS! The song sounds exactly like you would expect it to sound with a description, a line-up and a song title like that; old fashioned doom rock with a slightly melancholic edge. Love the haunting background vocals in the chorus.

6. GODSIZE - "Pure Aggression" : "BEER - FUELED - METAL – FURY” it says on these sludgy Brits’ website. Combined with that title you probably know what to expect. And you’d be right.

7. SPACECHARGE - "In Time": The second US band. Whatever the strong points of the bands on this comp may be, originality is not one of them. This doom track is pretty by-the-numbers but not bad.

8. ABDULLAH - "Long Gone" : The third US band on the comp and the second band (after SUNS OF THUNDER) I already heard of. Of course these guys have been around for awhile. And it shows. Song wise and production-wise the best track so far.

9. ALUNA – "Higher" : Back to Britain again. This song starts with an old fashioned PENTAGRAM-ish doom riff, but when the chorus with its smooth female vocals sets in it becomes something quite different. Almost like BLONDIE doing a BLACK SABBATH-song. Or something. In terms of playing and production its not the greatest track on offer here but this band’s sound is so interesting I will be watching them from now on.

10. BLACK CESAR - "Free range Woman" : Instrumental punk rock. Nice’n’dirty but I’m kind of waiting for the punchline.

11. I AM COLOSSUS – "Revelation" :It’s always nice when a band has an appropriate band name. This mixture of doom riffs and death grunts is so easy on the ears I’ll forgive em some of the very blatant SABBATH plundering.

12. SONIC LORD - "Come Back Down Again" : It’s a shame the production on this tune is so thin (or is it those rotten computer speakers I’m playing this with?) because this is a great screamalong track. Trad doom as only the Brits can make it.

13. GONGA – "Sentinal" : …and now for something completely different. I was preparing for another bit of SABBATH-riffage but instead I got this impossibly catchy and almost folky heavy rock track. Nice!

14. THE HAROLD WARTOOTH - "Flight of The Bitch" : Canadians. Reminds me of those old grunge bands from the 90’s (before NIRVANA’s breakthrough). Or some of the heavier JANE’S ADDICTION tracks. Ordinary but nice.

15. QUEEN ELEPHANTINE - "Sea Goat" : Apparently these New Yorkers are sometimes compared to PINK FLOYD. Judging by this track I wonder why because doom rock simply doesn’t come any more limp-wristed than this. Which is a good thing by the way! One of the better tracks on the comp.

16. EL TOPO - "Let's Ride": Not as great as the movie they named themselves after but good for what it is; groovy fuzzy retro hard rock (sometimes also referred to as ‘stoner’).

17. MOS GENERATOR - "On The Eve" - Well, Catacomb records has made it clear what they stand for. And anyone familiar with the kind of music they stand for will also probably know this band and this tune (which is also on their 2006 album “The Late Great Planet Earth”). I don’t know if it’s good or bad that a kind of ‘established’ band has to provide the best tune but I guess for a starting label it’s nice to have the support of a band like this.

Not every tune on this comp is a winner (although SUNS OF THUNDER, DIRTYRED, ALUNA, SONIC LORD and GONGA are definitely names to watch), but on the other hand there’s no really bad track to be found either, so apparently Catacomb promises to be a label with standards.

- Van Hoften

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