• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

I first encountered Hour of 13 with their 2017 compilation Salt the Dead, an album I liked. With Black Magick Rites, the band's fourth full-length album, I now get to hear new Hour of 13 music with founding member Chad Davis handling all the instruments and vocals (Salt the Dead featured several past Hour of 13 vocalists on various songs). The album, originally released at the end of 2020 independently and now getting a proper, multi-format release courtesy of Shadow Kingdom Records, is comprised of standard doom metal with a strong Candlemass (and by extension Black Sabbath) influence. Thundering bass, slow (but not dirge-like) tempos and haunted vocals characterize the songs from start to finish. I particularly enjoyed "Within the Pentagram" as Davis hits a bullseye on the chorus, which is hard to get out of your head. The other songs are fine while on, but not as memorable. Davis' vocals have a slightly off-kilter aspect, by design I assume, and the vocal lines are phrased in a way to increase the gloomy, macabre atmosphere. There is nothing on Black Magick Rites that blows me away, but I find it hard to believe anyone that is a fan of Candlemass, Solitude Aeturnus, etc. wouldn't find something of interest here.