Horehound

In contrast to the sludgier approach that Horehound would take on subsequent albums, their 2016 self-titled debut is a considerably simpler and more straightforward affair. There’s a degree of traditional doom influence as the songs are driven by swinging riffs and a bottom-heavy guitar crunch ala Pentagram and The Obsessed while the vocals have a steady melodic presence without getting too aggressive. Comparisons could be made to Alunah and Lucifer’s earlier efforts, albeit with a considerably heavier attitude.

And with the album totaling to thirty-three minutes across seven tracks, it’s fair to say that the songwriting further reinforces a no-nonsense approach. “The Dead Don’t Lie” and “Waters of Lethe” put in the best impressions, the former putting in the album’s most crushing riff set and the former utilizing the most atmospherics. There’s also a hint of what’s to come as the closing “Waking Time” puts in a noticeably harsher riff and injects its choruses with some call and response between shouted vocals and the usual cleans.

Overall, Horehound’s self-titled outing makes for a solid doom debut. I find myself wishing that the songs were a bit catchier considering the album’s more riff-oriented approach, but the musicianship makes for it. The combination of crunchy guitar and ethereal vocals is always a winner and the more tripped out moments provide hints for what the band would soon achieve. An album like 2018’s Holocene may provide a better entry into the world of Horehound, but this is a decent start.