New Dark Ages

For their debut full-length, the wonderfully named Felonious Bosch expand on the ideas of their initial EP, and New Dark Ages is very aptly titled. There's a sparseness to the sound and production that seems empty at first, but soon becomes logical, there's meant to be space and emptiness in this music. Although it might contain some elements of folk and world music in the form of a couple of traditional pieces ("Deep Blue" originates in Romania, for example), they're very much a rock band with their own vision colored in differing shades of black. It's apt, then, that one of the tracks should be a Black Sabbath cover, although this version of "Behind the Wall of Sleep" bears little resemblance to the original. And in keeping with the shadowy mood, they end with a deliberate dirge, "Ode to Billy Christ," which is hypnotic in its gloom. At times there are prog touches to them, and "Cooper's Attic" brings to mind Curved Air, not only in the singing but the actual style of the song. Although they retain an oppressive heaviness throughout, it never devolves into metal or sludge; instead it sits on the edge of your consciousness, grinning like a demon. Great fun, and they've only just begun to realize their potential