Bastard Sword - Bastard Sword Ι

This album is not just another Black Sabbath's kid or another uninspired doom metal album. This is an album that deserves a place in metal's undergound world of 2023. Recommended for all doom and stoner metal fans.

That's an alright Doom/Stoner release but nothing blows my mind on here. Nothing is really bad per se, but also not much stands out with perhaps the exception of "Santeria De Sangre" and "Witching Brethren" which are my personal highlights due to their energy.

Also, not liking the decision to put "The Orbital Mechanist" right after "Anthropocene" because they are 2 much slower tracks who don't really bleed all that well into one another which kinda breaks the momentum and immersion for me. They could definitely up the production and direction for their next release.

It is a decent debut overall but its also nothing to go crazy about IMO. Hopefully they take what they learn there and make a killer release next time around.

I always preferred the Claymore.

They've definitely nailed the stoner/doom tone, it couldn't get any deeper, fuzzier or heavier if they tried, so top marks for that. The first track is a like a modern take on Black Sabbath's self-titled track, which is unoriginal but still a pretty cool track. The synths have a decent psychedelic touch, and the bluesy solo's are quite impressive too.

Other than that, it's a solid stoner doom release, with a great sound quality and typical standard songwriting for the genre. I like it but it's nothing I would personally obsess over.