aglasshouse Arizona based Doom metal act Goya's second studio album to me is the definition of what doom metal should be. Dark and brooding, these stoner metal megatons have delivered another fantastic album full of brain-crunching riffs that are guaranteed to blow you into a metal induced stupor. This is the album following 777 (2013), an album that had some faults, particularly in leaning too heavily on Sabbath and Sleep influences with vocal work and song structure. That is all wiped away with their followup, Obelisk. The band has gained strong individuality with Jeff Owens switching to a more distant, yelling style, and Asselin and Taylor going for a more clean cut route on their playing styles. The album is filled with long, ripe tracks that utilize speaker-blowing power to deliver a sullen and brooding lyrical and instrumental communiqué to your senses. While I do criticize some doom metal albums for being too plodding and one-track-mind, Goya constantly switches it up with acoustic ballads such as 'The Star' and '300 Eyes', and a power-metal style 'The Sun'. The outro 'No Place in the Sky' is extremely Sleep-like, in the way that it's a long composition that retains a very clear motif throughout (usually a very slow, dark stoner slog).

Goya's Obelisk is perfect for those whose tastes beg for something fresh and new from the doom metal genre. You will receive a wonderful experience in return.