GRAND MAGUS - Grand Magus (Metal Blade)
Review by Dave Wolff
Rating: ****
http://www.myspace.com/grandmagusrocks
Doom metal and stoner rock were growing increasingly tedious and boring for me, some time ago. This could have been related to my tastes, but moments when I heard originality in the genre seemed to be fewer and farther between. On the other hand, I have consistently managed to find a band that shattered the mediocrity I was experiencing, quite suddenly and without forewarning. This particularly happened when I discovered the likes of Venom, Napalm Death and Dark Throne. Thankfully I can say the same for the Swedish doom/blues three-piece Grand Magus. The band has been in existence for about a decade, having released four full lengths that received critical acclaim in metal communities the world over. With such influences as Judas Priest, Kyuss and Black Sabbath and pre-Christian pagan themes slithering their way into the classic sword-and-sorcery themes of old, Grand Magus revitalize blues-inspired doom metal with the proper amount of balance to give special character to the last few albums I reviewed here. This time the balance is between the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and the contemporary Viking metal of Amon Amarth. Metal Blade even goes so far to refer to them as Black Magic Rock, a title that carries a hint or two of originality, Their self-titled album along with Monument are to be re-released by Metal Blade and heard by larger audiences this month. At the risk of writing something fluffy, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Grand Magus on Headbanger’s Ball in the near future. But this is less owing to hype and more owing to their credibility as working performers as they have shared the stage with At The Gates, Cathedral, Candlemass and others at several metal fests including Sweden Rock, Wacken, Summer Breeze and Hell Fest.