siLLy puPPy ZOROASTER is a doomy sludge metal band that emerged from Atlanta, Georgia, USA in 2003 and on their debut album utilizes a very Sabbath induced doom metal riff experience with the production value of a 90s black metal demo. While this suits the music fine it can be an impediment for some who value production above all else. The music is dark and ominous and finds itself perfectly situated between doom and sludge. The overall sound is dark, muddy and in the treble free zone. Reminds me of similar sludge bands like Iron Monkey but not quite as innovative. This is truly music you could learn to play in like 5 minutes.

While krakens on album covers always garner my attention, i have to admit that there isn’t a lot of staying power on this one. The growly shouted vocals are cool and as is the overall sound and mix of this eponymous debut album but at the same time the songwriting is fairly weak, obviously Sabbath influenced and just doesn’t really stand out too much from the other legions of doom / sludge metal debuts that want to create this lo-fi type of experience.

According to some sources this IS a demo and according to some it’s their first album. To me it sounds like a demo. This is very minimalistic Electric Wizard type of stuff without any bells and whistles at all. If that is your game then you will love this, but personally i find it a tad generic and crave something more dynamic, however this is a decent slice of high distortion in correct proportion type of doom sludge and it is by no means a throwaway product, but hardly a classic of the ages either. Good underground sounding metal but not much to raise it above that status.