Maximum Metal Rating Legend

RAMESSES- The Tomb - 2005 - Invada Records

Track Listing 1. The Tomb 2. Cult Of Cyclops 3. Omniversal Horror 4. Unholy Outburst #3

Thinking this was going to be some sort of Nile offshoot I was caught off guard at Ramesses' more doomy approach on this 4 song ep. It was then no surprise to read that Tim Bagshaw (guitar) and Mark Greening (drums) created this band with Adam Richardson (bass) after leaving another doom outfit called Electric Wizard. THE TOMB plods out of the gate with some low-end chugging that really never deviates much from the main path. In fact, that's pretty much how the first three tunes are laid out as you get some long, drawn out guttural groovin' that reminds me of Entombed covered in molasses.

One thing that impressed me was the level of energy that came across during the very few mid-tempo sections. During these few brief spots I was hoping they were going to take off and let it rip but Ramesses seem more content with riding the slow river of sludge. Closing out the disc was the most enjoyable and different song "Unholy Outburst #3". As some Sabbath-like riffing came cackling out of my speakers, the free-style jamming held my attention and I wondered why in hell they didn't mix it up like this throughout the first three tunes.

What Ramesses has to do with sludge metal, I'll never know. The band gives very little connection to their name choice lyrically, and absolutely none musically. Not that this hasn't happened a thousand times over already but I for one was excited to dig into some ancient-themed metal. For Doom-Heads only.

--Axeman 12.29.05