I really enjoyed the last self titled and debut album from Saskatchewan doom bruisers Lavagoat so naturally when this new one popped through the door I was quick to claim it. The first thing that really strikes is the old sc-fi style artwork (slightly different on my promo than displayed here) which goes hand in hand with the title ‘Monoliths Of Mars.’ This is the sort of stuff I used to spend ages looking at in books of poster art when I was a young un and wonder what on earth could be beneath the pages of the book or in the images of the film it represented. Kudos has to go to artist Jason Dopko for this.

Classed as an EP but giving a whole lot more than a short fix, the track titles are also great and this was like putting on an old Flash Gordon or Star Trek TV prog on an early Saturday morning and sitting glued to the screen. ‘Forge Of Vulcan sees the spaceship landing and we cautiously set foot outside to see what mysteries await us. As the riffs unfurl we venture forth into a barren sort of place that expands slowly into a heavyset and brutal sludgy doom-laden morass of roars from the singer and angry drum pounds. This is very much at the heavier side of anything doom orientated and although not quite death doom it’s not far off and serves as a hammer smash to the face. The steel of this Vulcan’s forge is not to be disputed. It retains a melody amongst the heaviness and you will be pounding your fists along to this one in no time.  Everything goes tripped out with sonic bloops and swirls straight out the space rock school established by Hawkwind way back in time. We are now at the ‘Planet Of The Dead’ and vocals are cleanly delivered ala Lee Dorian before the track roars into life and forcefully batters on with Neurosian intensity.

Strange noises perpetuate this realm or perhaps it is lack of oxygen leading to next track ‘Galactic Dementia.’ Big riffs flail out like tentacles and we are into a slab heavy groove with deathly distempered roars bruising our ears. “Darkness, Chaos” comes the cry and we are sucked through the vacuum before a melodious spiralling guitar solo spins out. The monster however is still to rear forth as the title track lives up to its name and is a twenty minute beast of a number. Classic doom laden riffs crushingly and slowly pound away with shouted out vocals. I am reminded a bit of a mix of Electric Wizard and Cathedral here which is no bad thing at all and it is a heady one too. Things loosen up and it limbers off into a galloping rhythm that also now is reminding me a bit of our old favourites round these parts Centurions Ghost. The song could be considered finished around the seven minute mark but the band turn it into a megalithic pulsating mass of space rockisms taking us into infinity and beyond. Sticking around is advised if you want to go all cosmic man!

Great stuff this is a band to watch out for.

(7.5/10 Pete Woods)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lavagoat/126619510720359