Black Pyramid – Demo CD (Self-Release)
By Jay Snyder
December 20, 2007

Massachusetts heathens Black Pyramid fall into the same spectrum as Elder for me. While it may not be nothing fiendishly new, I’ll be damned if their riffs don’t nod to the old guard with class. At this point Elder is more developed because they already have an official release and a massive full-length waiting in the wings. Black Pyramid has just scratched the surface with this three song demo so give them time. I’m sensing some big things are on the horizon.

With ex-members of Artimus Pyledriver and Palace in Thunderland in this behemoth you should already be expecting something that is pummeling. Black Pyramid brings the doom with an emphasis on the big blues of Sabbath, Sleep and Earthride. I say add a touch of thrashing metal in the High on Fire vein and you’re just about there. Even the vocals remind me of Matt Pike but with a clearer delivery. The spacey, psychedelic overtones (especially in some of the guitar passages) seal the deal giving the songs a very well rounded feel.

At six minutes long, “Vision of Gahenna” has plenty of time to show off a bit of everything that these guys are about. Smoky riffs smothered in Sabbath gravy ooze out of your speakers with that mean, lowdown distortion level that Earthride fans would feel right at home with. Rhythmically speaking this is some weighty stuff. The bass is always audible; bringing in a lot of support to fill out the sound. It always maintains a steadfast groove even when the guitar shoots into outer space later in the song. Meanwhile the drummer pounds you into submission. Skin-master Clay Neely doesn’t so much as play the drums as he engages in a drunken, barroom brawl with them. This is a guy with purpose in every strike, hammering your senses with repeated, crushing blows. Tasty, lead guitar licks help slash out a huge opening track that may not break new ground but sucks me in either way.

“Mirror Messiah” focuses on a more upbeat tone that brings to mind that classic Maryland doom groove with the Sleep factor still intact. Searing leads and another psychedelic section carve Black Pyramid’s message deep in your forehead, making it my top cut on the album. I even have the vocals/lyrics to this one stuck in my head on a permanent basis. The vocal tone is gritty but melodic enough to make all of the lines memorable. I find them spot on for what the rest of the instruments are going for. The trance laden section in this one also hits one out of the park.

“No Life King” closes up shop on this demo with the band’s shortest work herein. Massive, doom riffs collide over a wall of galloping beats and thick low end. This song probably has the most traditional metal leanings of all three of the tunes. HOF and their battle-hardened stomp surely bear some influence here but Black Pyramid put their own spin on it enough to make things interesting. The song reminds me of HOF with more Sleep swing and less of the warrior onslaught, which isn’t a bad thing at all.

Nice work on this demo all around. It isn’t anything new per say but these guys do what they do damn well. They’ve made themselves a great starting point to work off of and as time goes on I’m sure they’ll find a way to put even more of their own twist on things. I find Black Pyramid well-worth checking out as they should be a great find for those who dig Sleep, HOF, Kalas and the Maryland doom crew.


Visit the Black Pyramid website at www.myspace.com/blackpyramidkills

Kevin

Whoah. Nice one, Jay!

Thanks to your review, I'm seriously interested in hearing this.

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Arzgarth

Saw them live a couple of weeks ago and I never thought to grab a disc. Then again, that asshole dinger didn't think to give me one either.

Kevin - they're the real deal. Well worth checking out.

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Kevin

Sounds like Dinger, alright.

OK, I REALLY want to check 'em out now. A two-fisted recommendation from Jay n' John is heavy currency.

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dinger

Arz, you know what happened? I was giving them out at the Ogre/Revelation/Ichabod show, but by the time I had gone to the car to get them, you had already left. When next I saw you, I somehow figured I had already given you one since you were at that show, but forgot you left before I gave them to people. My bad.

Kevin (or anyone else), if you would like one, send me a PM and we`ll work it out.


7 inch in the works, details soon...

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www.myspace.com/blackpyramidkills

Evildeadjay

Thanks Kev. Yeah, this is a damn good stuff. I'll be looking forward to a 7" inch, sure thing!

clfrecords

One of the few new bands I've discovered in the last couple of months that really kicked my ass.

Kevin

Jay nailed it. To me it's Sleep meets Palace in Thunderland. Great stuff!!

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