Hour of 13

Many throwback or retro bands have emerged over the last couple of years. Some of these groups fully understand how to bring back the vibe from metal’s early days. Others just sound like modern bands playing similar notes or scales as the progenitors of heavy music. Hour of 13 falls into the former category. Although Earache historically signs death and grind bands—more recently, deathcore and thrash—the vaunted label discovered the greatness of this doom-ridden heavy metal act, signed them and will reissue “The Ritualist” less than a year after Northern Silence Records original release.

Hour of 13 vocalist Philip Swanson narrates bone-chilling tales of black-hooded gatherings, demonic possession and passageways to the underworld. He doesn’t possess the wicked highs of so many 1980s front men. Instead, he projects middle range malevolence in the style of Ozzy Osbourne and Messiah Marcolin of Candlemass.

Chad Davis handles the rest of the instruments on the album, while the group makes use of session players for concerts. Davis stays busy behind the drum kit, hitting furious rolls with the gusto of Bill Ward. He seems to have run his guitars through older amps, which results in a gravelly crunch and eerie harmonies (see ‘Soldiers of Satan.’)

Davis keeps the music flowing by mixing up tempos and bridging passages with hollowed-ringing solos. ‘Possession’ relates vintage Sabbath, while ‘Demons All Around Me’ recaptures the magic of early Mercyful Fate riffing. ‘Evil Inside’ contains the dark aura of Candlemass’ sustained chords, but offers the surprise of an old school death metal style riffing made famous by Death and Obituary.

The North Carolina band’s second recording “The Ritualist” brings us back to the occult-entwined roots of heavy metal when the mere mention of Satan in a song made you a “black metal band.” Their music conjures visions of a time when Mercyful Fate was the most evil band on the planet, Candlemass coined the term doom metal and Ozzy Osbourne was no laughing matter to parents. Crank up “The Ritualist,” carve a pentagram in your hand and swear to Satan!