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I wasn't sure what to expect from a band by the name of Bottomless, but upon listening to their second album, The Banishing, many times, I can tell you they have a good idea of what doom metal is supposed to sound like. Their music is rooted in the Sabbath school of doom, alternating slow, crushing bottom-heavy songs with quicker, rocking tempos, all featuring just the right amount of reverb and some beautiful melodies. The vocals are OK, but the echo on them fits the cobwebby, occult vibe well, so the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. I particularly like the mystical acoustic guitars and their simplicity on "Guardians of Silence," which has a haunting vibe, as well as the Trouble-inspired riffs of "Standing in the Dimming Light," but there really isn't a bad song on The Banishing. So often, today's doom is actually stoner/sludge or merely aping the greats, but it feels like Bottomless, though definitely standing on the shoulders of the giants, has come up with their own take which shines through. The Banishing is a refreshingly solid doom record that should appeal to traditional metal fans as well.