Artist: Earthride
Country: USA
Label: Doomentia Records
Formats: LP
Year: 2008
Once in a while a new labels stands up and dedicates itself on releasing great vinyl records only, recently one of those labels is Doomentia Records, based in the Czech Republic. This label has been releasing a handful of records lately, all worth your attention, like Hooded Menace and this Earthride. An album that has been released in 2002 for the first time on Southern Lord, but this is the picture vinyl version in a very nice looking cut-out cover.
Musically it is just a one-on-one copy of the album released by Southern Lord Records, but of course, as a vinyl geek, this is just a total gem. With the ‘logo cut-out’ cover (or ‘die-cut-cover’, if you will) the great looking purple picture disc shows through, it also comes with an inlay with all lyrics and a great picture of the band – all housed in a heavy weight, thick spined cover. And, for those who never heard of the band before, it is a very bluesy kind of doom not very different from Down – though a lot more tamed down. With the whiskey and tobacco drenched vocals by the little man that Dave Sherman (ex-Plantet Caravan) is it blends into a very organic sounding pure doom album that comes straight from the blues roots. In the mean time the band also released a second album and the first mini CD has been released on a 10” vinyl as well, but this is still the ultimate Earthride album that shows the band in full power and with all its trademarks.
Definitely a great album that deserved a release like this, and it will, therefore, be a great addition to anyone who is into old school doom metal or even stoner (metal). The dampy sound and the swinging blues parts in this album will make this album a classic-to-be in this genre that is often overlooked.
