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I have to admit with a name like "The Graviators" I wasn't immediately drawn to this Swedish Doom band but the more I listen to their third album, Motherload, with its artwork depicting horned beasts, skulls and a pentagram, the more I'm enjoying it. Classic early Doom, full of heavy, distorted guitars, slow tempos that give the riffs time to roll over you and wild, passionate singing is what you are in for from the opening notes of "Leif's Last Breath/Dance of the Valkyrie" through the feedback-laden fadeout of "Druid's Ritual." The vocals sound like a cross between the more-emotion-than-talent style of Ozzy Osborne and the tune-be-damned howling of Eric Wagner, but in the end, they suit the music perfectly. The riffs are, as previously stated, huge but very melodic and the songs flow very well. Choruses on "Bed of Bitches" and "Tigress of Siberia" are catchy and everything sounds very organic. I have to admit the songs "Lost Lord," at 10:49 and "Druid's Ritual," at 13:26, really go on too long and devolve into spacey jams for extended stretches before getting back to the meat of the song. Probably not a bad thing if it is night, the incense is burning and the black lights are on. :) Still, I prefer when the band is just crushing me with riff after riff.

Minor complaints about song length aside, The Graviators serve up some tasty classic Doom Metal on Motherload. Check it out if classics by Black Sabbath and Trouble and newer stuff by Cauchemar light the lava lamp for you.