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VANDHALI
Fever Dream

Self-released (2022)
Rating: 8/10

Yes, Vandhali are heavily influenced by the 70s and Black Sabbath. So now that elephant in the room is out of the way we can enjoy this record which is the work of vocalist / guitarist Craig Harker, bassist Kyle Loeffler and drummer Stephen Rael. This is some good, doomy retro heaviness from Denver, Colorado, with the band exhibiting strong, catchy if somewhat formulaic riffs and effective vintage vibes.

The band comes into its own with the more wistful ‘Magic Helmet’ which struts and creaks nicely, although opener ‘River Styx’ has a strong Black Sabbath flavour, particularly in the Tony Iommi-inspired lead work and general feel of the track – for example, Sabbath’s ‘The Wizard’.

Elsewhere there are examples of Vandhali being more than just what so many bands are becoming bogged down by… mimicry. ‘Moss Creeper’ is atmospheric, suspenseful and yet subtle, ‘Cauldron Of Spells’ is monstrously consuming with its distorted groove, and ‘Judas Goat’ has an almost heavy, 60s fuzz-cum-psych approach, again though, all wrapped up in that proto doom sort of misty shroud.

There’s also a lot of strangeness to behold with this intriguing debut album. ‘Stone In The Lake’ brims with sinister rhythmic pulses and the title track shifts straight into top gear as a rumbling, cosmic eloper of wondrously psychedelic design and boasting eerie yet brief narration. Vandhali conjure the sort of dread Sabbath made their own – just check the riff of ‘Double Mind’ and become entranced by this behemoth of a record that’s boggier than a witches cauldron.

Neil Arnold

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