Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Earthride - Vampire Circus - 2005 - Southern Lord Records

Track Listing1. Fighting the Devils Inside You 2. Understand 3. Vampire Circus 4. Dirtnap 5. Interlude 6. God's Own Medicine 7. Loss 8. For Wrath and Ruin 9. In the World I Live 10. Swamp Witch

I got my first taste of Dave Sherman's raw, dirty vocal styling when he was the low end man for Scott 'Wino' Weinrich's The Obsessed/Saint Vitus project Spirit Caravan. He did occasional vocals and it was obvious he had something special! I actually got my hands on Earthride's first self-produced, self-titled four song EP at a Spirit Caravan show in 2001. I LOVED IT!!

In 2002 Southern Lord released the band's debut album, "Taming of the Demons." This was another masterpiece to be handed down into the hallowed brotherhood of Doom legendry. In the early months of 2005, Sherm and company began working with Mike Dean, bassist for sludge metal giants Corrosion of Conformity. The result of the collaboration is one of the finest works of Doom to be committed to recorded media.

Where "Taming..." left off "Vampire Circus" picks things up, then adds something 'extra' along the way. "Fighting The Devils Inside You" opens the album with thick, crushing force. Play it loud
and feel your guts quiver with the delicious sonic invasion! As a matter of fact, if you're into bass-heavy, sleazy, crunchy Doom, you wont find a single weak point anywhere on this album.
An added bonus is the additional layering of keyboards, courtesy of Clutch keyboardist Mick Schauer on tracks like the mega-heavy "Dirtnap" and the rowdy closer "Swamp Witch".

I'm listening to this right now, and it's hard to keep still and do my job! This is definitely the type of music that infects your spirit and makes you want to MOVE!!


--Susan Wright 12.26.05