3 Inches of Blood - Here Waits Thy Doom

Release Date: August 31st, 2009
Label: Century Media

TRACK LISTING

1.  Battles and Brotherhood
2.  Rock in Hell
3.  Silent Killer
4.  Fierce Defender
5.  Preachers Daughter
6.  Call of the Hammer
7.  Snake Fighter
8.  At the Foot of the Great Glacier
9.  All of them Witches
10.  12:34
11.  Execution Tank
12.  Cities in Flame
        (Blue Öyster Cult Cover)

Total Playing Time:  55:34

April  5, 2010

Reviewer: Kesh

Have you ever wondered what it would sound like if metal legends Judas Priest decided to sit down and play a game of Dungeons and Dragons? Have you ever wondered what it would sound like if they wrote an album about that epic adventure? Well wonder no more my friend, because Vancouver, BC’s, 3 Inches of Blood have answered this question in the form of 2009’s Here Waits Thy Doom - an album that should be subtitled Ye Olde Metal Album.

I wouldn’t go as far as saying that the boys from the band are total gamer geeks. Far from it; just by looking at them, they look like they would be more happy at a biker rally than in someone’s basement rolling a handful of d6 in a desperate attempt to cast magic missile. And I can definitely see this album being spun in the background of a very spirited gaming session while some PC is trying to impress a wench at the local tavern.

On the tail of 2007’s Fire Up the Blades, Here Wait Thy Doom keeps up with the spirit of tracks like “The Goatriders Horde” and “Forrest King” from the preceding album. The songs are drenched in Norse myth and fantasy elements from classics like Lord of the Rings (“Destroy the Orcs” anyone?). For me, this all works, catching my fantasy-soaked brain and throttling it despite my better efforts to defend against it.

But the album isn’t all just monsters and battles. Oh, no. With tracks like “Rock In Hell” and “Preacher’s Daughter” on the album, 3 Inches of Blood proves that they can sing about more than the standard fantasy fare. They also take a detour into Norse mythology with the song “Call of the Hammer,” a song that upon first listen becomes apparent is about the Norse thunder god, Thor.

With the inclusion of the Blue Öyster Cult cover, “Cities in Flame” on the version of the disk I received rounding out the track listing, the band puts forth a decent run-of-the-mill effort. My meaning? While it’s exciting the first few times you listen to it, and would be appropriate at a gaming convention or while you’re playing your Xbox or other game console, the album stays just that: background music, not standing on it's own, but not so horribly bad that you just can't stand it. The music doesn’t stand up as more than just background music for gamers. I do have to give them some credit though; live these guys kick some real ass. I happened to see them open for Cradle of Filth a few years back and I remember their performance more than I do the headlining act’s, so they are definitely worth seeing live if nothing else.

If ye of little faith doubt me about them sounding like what I described in the first paragraph, I order you to take your Monster Manual and d20 and go over to MySpace and give a listen. You’ll see what I mean.

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