So those of you currently enjoying the glut of old school metal bands fronted by smoky, female crooners (The Devils Blood, Christian Mistress, Witch Mountain, Jess and the Ancient Ones, Jex Thoth, Blood Ceremony, etc) here’s a short little EP that should appeal to you by way of the debut EP from Nevada’s Demon Lung (an Electric Wizard reference maybe?)

Though only 4 songs and 21 minutes long, Pareidolia delivers enough fuzzed out female fronted doomy classic metal to satiate any fans of the style. Singer Shanda Fredrick has the requisite sultry pipes that keep a steady, hazy tone neither going to falsetto or too gravelly. Its the perfect tone for the music as she has a deeper, bluesy voice that fits the languid music perfectly. The back bone of the music seems rooted in a sort of Candlemass territory with big, full, fuzzy guitars and of course a slight Sabbath/70s feel. The balance is perfect between stoned out psychedelia and more burly pure doom metal.

Opener  and first video, “Lament Code” is the EPs centerpiece and standout with a rangy, hypnotic sway and groove while the EPs heaviest cut is “Death Mask” showing despite the female vocals the rest of the band can bring the doom effectively enough. The EPS title track is the second best song, returning to the more languid, lazy slither of the opener but peaking with big grooves and haunting, rumbling end notes.

I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of the style having tried to give Christian Mistress and other multiple listens to no avail. But given choice, due to Fredrick’s understated style and a presence of some nice rich guitars playing a more pure doomy style, I could get into Demon Lung and look forward to a future full length- so long as they release it while the genre is still hot.

[Visit the band's website]

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