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In Doom Metal we trust...sure, a cliché phrase but it still holds so much truth in it especially when that phrase is connected to Peruvian doomsters Reino Ermitaño (Hermit Kingdom, roughly translated.) Their fourth full-length studio opus, Veneración del Fuego, has been released on the quality Swedish underground label I Hate Records. Reino Ermitaño was formed in the capital of Peru, Lima, back in late 2001 and ever since the band has been securely building up a strong backbone of very 70s, Sabbath-inspired Doom Metal.

Front-woman Tania Duarte has a more bewitching voice than you might expect given the type of Doom played by Reino Ermitaño. Veneración del Fuego offers a somewhat interesting journey back to a time when the smell of pot was everywhere, your girlfriend was also my girlfriend and vice versa, Greenpeace was "in" and "cool" and everyone hated the Vietnam War. But that time also saw bands like Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath bring something new, something a little bit heavier into the world of Rock music. Reino Ermitaño does not modify the old recipe but recycles, reuses and adds something from their own ancient roots into their crispy, heavy, hippy-ish and even nicely ethereal Doom Metal. They manage to sound like they were all in their twenties during the hazy times of the early 70s and getting their major kicks from the heaviest acts of the day and then decided to form Reino Ermitaño. Their back-to-the-roots sound has something magical and so captivating it makes you go back to the record over and over. Their sound is very organic and, in a good way, hallucinogenic in the right environment (sitting at home, tiredly surfing through some meaningless TV channels with the remote and being fed up with your own life and having a bottle of cold Karhu beer? Ah, I think that will do it.)

The question remains whether this Peruvian Doom Metal comet will ever reach more than the few pairs of ears needed to get them to the next level. They certainly deserve it. Reino Ermitaño is one of those examples that good music can be created in every possible corner of the world. Support this band!