Early Moods’ third album doesn’t come as a rebuild but as a maturation. «Ready For the Grave» comes out on September 18 on RidingEasy Records and finds the Los Angeles band in full form: seven tracks of almost six minutes each, built on riffs, with a production that gives the sound the volume it deserves.
Country: USA
Genre: Doom Metal
For fans of: Trouble, Pentagram, Candlemass, Black Sabbath
The seven tracks are «Ready For the Grave», «Inquisition», «Thy Eternal Grief», «The Prowler», «When Light Fades», «Her Wicked Spells» and «Ashes Of The Damned». Early Moods formed in 2015, released their first EP after the start of the pandemic and put out the self-titled debut album in 2022, with «A Sinner’s Past» following in 2024.
The band consists of Alberto Alcaraz on vocals and keys, Oscar Hernandez and Eddie Andrade on guitars, Elix Felciano on bass and Chris Flores on drums. The production was handled by Toshi Kasai at Cyan Sound Studio, with the mastering done at Audiosiege — a job that is clearly audible on the drums, which have presence without drowning the other instruments.
Our take
The album doesn’t try to hide where it comes from. The opening with the title track has a low groove and turns that put you straight into the rhythm, while «Inquisition» shows their love for the harsher side of the early 80s sound. The base is doom, but with speed and drive that keep it far from monotony.
In the second half, «Thy Eternal Grief» and «The Prowler» go slower and heavier, and there Alcaraz gives his best moments, with a style that recalls the grandeur of Dio over Sabbath. The backing vocals work as a second tool, filling the gaps where you’d expect a guitar solo. «When Light Fades» is the weakest point — not bad, but the performance doesn’t rise as much as the song’s structure asks — while «Ashes Of The Damned» closes with a slow, heavy crescendo that leaves the biggest impression of everything heard in the second half.
«Ready For the Grave» isn’t an album that will change doom, but it’s one of those that keep it alive in a serious way. Early Moods play with respect for tradition and with their own touch, and are among the steadiest names in the field right now.
Find them
- Bandcamp: earlymoods.bandcamp.com/album/ready-for-the-grave
- Label: RidingEasy Records
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