Band:	The Graviators
Album:	Motherload
Style:	Doom metal, Stoner metal
Release date:	March 2014

01. Leifs Last Breath / Dance Of The Valkyrie
02. Narrow Minded Bastards
03. Bed Of Bitches
04. Tigress Of Siberia
05. Lost Lord
06. Corpauthority
07. Drowned In Leaves
08. Eagles Rising
09. Druid's Ritual

Here's a real moral dilemma for you: How do you assess an album that's unbelievably derivative, but is absolutely cram-packed with such juicy-ass riffs? On one hand, I want to scoff at a band as un-fresh as The Graviators, but God damn, they do what they do so freakin' well.

It's stoner-doom of the 'Sabbath/Pentagram-worshiping variety. Think of the basic riffwork from Orchid, the vocals from Witchcraft, spiced with some touches of Acid Witch trippy-ness via the Hammond & Wurlitzer keys. Of course, a mix like this has to be delivered in that distinct analog sound.

Yeah, it's all been done before - but never quite like Motherload. It reaches eye-watering levels of epicness and grandeur, without cutting back on any of the baser doom-riff-fests. "Lost Lord" is a particular stand-out: This track is essentially a ten minute jam sesh'. Normally, that screams out "wankers", but they somehow manage to turn it into a journey through Deep Purple, Santana and Hendrix territory, making it possibly the most captivating part of this already infectious album.

Motherload stomps over a lot of ground, derivative or not. Aside from the riveting guitar work, what makes this album impressive is just how smooth everything flows together. Sure, the songs clock in at a hefty average of eight minutes a piece, but you're not listening to the same song from end to end. Subtle prog pieces slip themselves in to act as beautiful little transitional elements. This is just well built, top to bottom.

If you hate any sort of retro-revivalism, stay the hell away from Motherload. If you can overcome that little issue, or even revel in it, then yes; Motherload truly is a motherload of an album.