Coffins

Japanese doom/sludge/old-school grinding black/death guys Coffins know what they're doing, as it seems like everyone who listened to one of their first three full-lengths (or numerous other releases) fell in love with their crusty, Tom G. Warrior-worshipping sound. Given that the tunes are always laden with old-school Swedish death guitar fuzz and drum galloping (i.e., "No Saviour," which actually gets almost punk-y in its simplicity, before devolving into a blasting, dive-bomb-soloing, beautiful mess), it's hard to not get sucked into the contagious energy of tracks like "Hellbringer," even if they don't create memorable choruses like prime Entombed and their ilk. "The Colossal Hole" takes things to a sludge pace, the hi-hat ringing loud and clear between the hits, the spaces in the grooves extremely intense, highlighting the excellent, craggly, very suitable production, which brings out the atmosphere Coffins lay down with unapologetic authority. This is heaviness at a level that very few can ever hope to achieve, best exemplified with feedback-drenched late album sludge hit "The Unhallowed Tide." As well, last tune "Tormentopia" sounds positively… fun. Believe it.