Rating: 9.5

Country: Australia

Release Date: 2006

Record Label: Leafhound

Track list:
1. Dogmen (Of Planet Earth)
2. Soldier Of Misfortune
3. The Gas
4. Woman On Fire
5. Review Your Choices
6. Sperm Whale
7. Flesh Feast

Band Website: Ogre

Ogre - Seven Hells

Will Broadbent- Drums/Backing Vocals
Ed Cunningham- Bass/Vocals
Ross Markonish- Guitars/Vocals

This record has been a ubiquitous companion the past month and a half, and it seems to grow even more welcome with each subsequent listen. Now, Ogre's debut offering, the frighteningly awesome Dawn Of The Proto Man, has remained a steady compatriot with my stereo since its release, but while said recording touched all the familiar bases that render this reviewer into a giddy, gibbering heap- Sabbath, Pentagram, Budgie, Cactus, Seven Hells knocks the ball RIGHT OUT OF THE PARK, not so much by expanding into more innovative territory, but an even MORE convincing, fully-realized crystallization of said influences, a gushing, gorgeous FEAST of rich, dulcet aural indulgence that propels Ogre to the very APEX of today's doom-rock heap.

Yes, Ogre spare no expense or restraint in indulging their vintage doom jones, and those of us with a sweet tooth for all things Liebling and Iommi are eternally grateful for it- this panoramic cornucopia of goodness encloses, in the confines of 7 exquisitely executed tracks, everything you would expect from a band that has learned all the right moves from Sir Lord Baltimore, Cactus, Budgie, Bedemon, Pentagram, Black Sabbath, Grand Funk Railroad, Highway Robbery, Los Dug Dug's and the like. There is absolutely no pretense or posturing here- guitarist Ross Markonish posts frequently on the Hellride Music forums, sporting a distinctly unfashionable Shinki Chen (‘70s Japanese guitar god, for those of you alien to his accomplishments, please check out the self-titled Speed Glue & Shinki record) avatar, where he can often be found expatiating on the merits of obscure ‘70s Argentine and Japanese nuggets. Authentic music crafted from a sincere and unabashed ardor for ‘70s heavy rock, propelled by a fervor and ingénue that eludes more insipid propositions like Wolfmother, Seven Hells makes no apologies for its references- the ominous spectre of Tony Iommi surfacing with dogged frequency in various passages, while Randy Palmer leers menacingly in others, only to be nudged gently out of the spotlight by Tim Bogert and Louis Dambra. Ed Cunningham, proving himself to be as much of a vocal chameleon as Bobby Liebling was in his prime, manages to temper Ozzy-inflected moans with Leslie West grit and AUDACIOUS John Garner/Mark Farner falsettos, executing it all with a cocksure confidence that would make Rusty Day of Cactus proud.

Each song stands assertively on its own merits, and each and every composition has its distinct identity- “Dogmen Of (Planet Earth)” kicks off the proceedings with rocking so white-hot it might as well have been issued forth by the command of Ronnie Montrose, Ed weaving a fantastical sci-fi yarn atop an astonishingly tight, whiplash-inducing Grand-Funk- on-amphetamines bulldozer groove, replete with spiraling Ross Markonish wah-wah. “Soldiers Of Misfortune” ploughs darker terrain, narrating a tale of war and its harrowing effects on the psyche with requisite Sabbath dirge, before escalating into a throbbing climax, again reminiscent of the concluding movement in “Black Sabbath”. “The Gas” bears more than a vague hint of Bedemon's tortured desperation, perhaps the most archetypically DOOM number here, “Woman On Fire” (knowing nod to a certain “Lady On Fire”, gentlemen?) is wild, raucous, full-throttle American sear-rock ala Sir Lord Baltimore, while closing epic “Flesh Feast” boasts perhaps the finest solo of the past five years, as well as perhaps the most textured, defiantly ambitious number the band have penned to date, opening with Vitus-esque despondency before ushering the listener into bold new territory.

Ross' solos SPILL and BLEED all over this damn thing, and I don't think it would be imprudent to say that the man is one of the very finest string-manglers walking right now- not a note is wasted, each solos is expressive, soulful, scintillating, his tasteful guitar work accented by thoughtful use of effects. This is, of course, not to take away from the outstanding performances of Will and Ed, who lend an irrepressible swing and swagger to the material that is muscular yet supple- it is obvious here that these fine folks know what a POWER TRIO should sound like, and the gaping sonic pockets that surface between them are filled adroitly and tastefully, each member asserting his identity in the mix without belaboring the point with obnoxious overplaying, collectively exhibiting a synchronicity that seems physically impossible given the unbridled, manic energy of the material.

This is CRUCIAL, and if not for the somewhat haphazard cover of “Review Your Choices” (my personal favorite Pentagram song ever, which is executed with admirable aplomb, but is somewhat botched by Ed's over-the-top John Garner hollering, I always found the song to be more ominous and foreboding than out-and-out DEMONIC and EVIL, sometimes this cover feels a bit lampoon-ish), I'd be tempted to award it full marks. Absolutely one of the 5 finest records this year.

December 15th, 2006