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Lair Of The Minotaur: Evil Power Doom Metal, Thrash The Grind-House Records April 13th, 2010
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Review
Evil Power marks the fourth full-length release from the Doom and Thrash Metal act Lair Of The Minotaur, and it's clear that this band hasn't changed much except get heavier. With yet another album that will make you want to go to war with nothing but a giant axe and loincloth, Evil Power is easily the band's most solid effort yet, as well as their most enjoyable. The music of the album can only be described as heavy and commanding right from the start, even though it kicks off with a spoken word introduction marker on the openning track "Attack The Gods". Why this was included is unclear, but either way it makes no real difference to the pounding music found throughout the entire album. Given the band's track record of previous releases, Evil Power is an astounding follow-up album you would expect from them. From fun and energizing tracks like "Let's Kill These Mother Fuckers" and "We Are Hades", to even the most obscure track "Goatstorm" due to the music having more of a Death Metal composition to it then anything, that are just as serious as the next, you'll find a new passion in Doom Metal with this release. Musically the album is composed predominantly of simple low sounding chugging guitars through many of the songs, which usually would get boring after a while, but there's plenty of factors that really come into play here that make the material so energetic. There are tracks on here, much like the short but sweet "Hunt and Devour" that showcase some more guitar work with a little more calculated fret work, which is where Evil Power really shines. While the drumming isn't too insane, it's right on with the music, staying minimal when needed, like during "Riders of Skullhammer, We Ride the Night", or faster as with the title track, "Evil Power". The vocal performance on here is also a perk that really just pushes the music along, varying between a rather traditional rhaspy vocal style, to a much higher pitched style you'd expect from a Black Metal album. Of course, the vocals on here use some distortion to, which works in the album's favor to give the music more of an edge. The only thing that would deter people who have never heard Lair Of The Minotaur before would be the vocalist. The vocal style used on the album is highly appropriate, but there's a good chance that you will be taken back by the vocals right as "Attack the Gods" and "Let's Kill These Mother Fuckers" play through, and shrug them off as something that clashes against the music. As you become more familiar with the album it'll quickly grow clear that there is no other vocal style that could possibly suit the brand of Metal that this band plays, and you'll accept the performance with arms wide open. If you have never heard of Lair Of The Minotaur before, then now is your chance. The term "battle metal" really does suit this band as the material, while often simple, is furious enough to get your blood rushing to the point where you'll wanna just attack the nearest living thing next to you. Evil Power is easily one of the more important 2010 releases for any Metal fan, and also for the style, as it helps to raise the bar as far as expectations should go for future Doom albums, as well as has a high replay factor to it. From start to finish without any filler, you'll be headbanging wherever you are, and in the cases of some of the tracks, especially the pit approved "Goatstorm", you'll start a non-stop mosh wherever you happen to be.
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