The wide realm of doom metal is something that cannot be summed up in a single word, much like all metal, but it has always been something that one can’t easily ignore if given the proper attention. From Dragged to Clouds Taste Satanic, the genre has been greatly varied and Bandcamp has always been ripe for discovering promising new acts. I didn’t even have to do anything to find the debut from Green Druid who proves with the first track alone their new tasty treat of doom.

Typically, I’m more one for elaborate and colorful cover arts when it comes down to my doom metal, but there’s always the tasty exception. The solid weed-green color of “Ashen Blood” didn’t draw me in but the tasteful illustration in the center is what did the trick in the end, and I could never have expected such skill and finesse from Green Druid. Sticking with a classic fuzz-filled sense of riffage with plenty of psychedelia to make “Ashen Blood” an experience that exceeds over an hour to allow us a true doom jam that not many bands are able to create. With “Ashen Blood”, Green Druid displays true power and understanding of classic doom while still having the ability to forge their own paths amongst it all. We’re treated to a truly excellent piece of doom that’s forever laced with pure genius and tasty riffage from the exquisite opener to near 20-minute epics to a fitting end, and Green Druid plays them as though they’ve been performing for decades! In no small capacity, “Ashen Blood” is truly a divine gift the likes of which I haven’t heard in quite some time as I don’t often come across a band that can embody the classic sound properly, mix it with a newer sound beautifully, make it work like a fucking charm, lengthy tracks that don’t get boring after five minutes, and an overall impeccable sense of musicianship that’s no less than fucking crisp! Truly, a welcomed surprise.

Green Druid has truly exceeded every single expectation I could’ve ever had for them with spectacle results, and I’m very glad to see that their debut is already getting plenty of attention. “Ashen Blood” is the kind of album that will capture the hearts of many more than it already has, and it’s an incredibly easy task to see why that would happen.

LISTEN to “Ashen Blood” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Green Druid on Facebook here.

FOLLOW Green Druid on Twitter: @GreenDruidBand