ninehertz

Fangus bring the good time proto-metal in spades, a truly authentic sound from decades ago. Hailing from Montréal, their Emerald Dream album goes beyond the doff of the cap of a basic Black Sabbath, proto-doom retrovision and delves into the kaleidoscopic worlds of prog, psych and hard rock.

It will quickly grab you by the soul and get you moving, as Howling Hammer kicks off proceedings, the prominent organ shining light into the mix and bringing a whole heap of associated acts to mind – everyone from Boston to Spiritual Beggars. On the tracks that follow there are shifts in tempo and shade as well as subtle increases in the heaviness registers.

There are the odd occasions when they enter similar realms as early Witchcraft and yet more so into prog as the organ prominence remains. The title track could be a Rick Wakeman fever dream. Towards its end it becomes more directly trad heavy metal, first on the doomier, Sabbathian Shapeshifter and then with a nod to Deep Purple on the closer Stardust Regulator.

There are some quieter moments in and between these highlights where it doesn’t quite grab you as much as you’d hope, but the overarching sentiment is one of great warmth towards Emerald Dream, a gem of a record enriched by its organ and commitment to its style and era.