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Black Elephant - Seven Swords

Label: Small Stone Records
Format: Download
Released: 2020
Reviewed By: Jack Mangan
Rating: 7/10


Black Elephant are standouts in the increasingly soundalike world of modern Doom. Some Blues, some stank, some mystery, and - - hey, what’s that smell? Yes, the Stoner vibe is strong on this one too. They sing in their native Italian, so most American listeners. . . honestly, won’t care that much that they can’t understand the words.

 

“Seven Swords” is blessed and cursed, respectively, with long stretches of excellence broken by long expanses of doldrums. These terrains don’t even obey the borderlines of songs, spilling over into each other. “Berta’s Flame” opens the record with strength, but devolves a bit before it’s done. After a brief time in the desert, “Mihara” finishes strong, which leads to the groovy “Red Sun And Blues Sun.” A brief regression on the “Seppuku” track is followed by the album’s peak in its nigh-9-minute closer, “Govinda.”
“Seven Swords” is a good Stoner Doom record, no better, no worse. Their masterful 2018 album, “Cosmic Blues” album was one of the best of that year. Unfortunately, this one is not at the same level of excellence. Oh, there’s cool shit to be found when you trek through the songs on “Seven Swords;” sure, but “Cosmic Blues” is the one I recommend. Hell, consume them both, enjoy ‘em both.

 
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