Saturday afternoon, I was at my favorite CD store, shooting the breeze with the dude who runs and stocks the place. He'd been away for a while, touring with his band Death To Tyrants.

Somehow we got to talking about heavy music. I mentioned the Sovereign EP by Neurosis as one of my favorites when in 'the mood'. Eric then pulls out Dopesmoker by Sleep.

Holy cringing inner-ear parts, this music is scary. It is the reference standard for the word 'dirge'. Long, low and distorted bass and power chords. Apparently, this disc is the original music from which Jerusalem was built (much to the band's displeasure.)

All I know is that it's 63 minutes of pure distillation of metal. A sort of Crazy Horse and Black Sabbath reduction sauce.

(First posted on Mark Is Cranky)