DELUGE

Take the guitars from sludge metal, the complexity of progressive rock, the keyboards from a nearby carnival, a dash of jazz for good measure, shake well and the result is Lorus' Deluge. While being influenced by different bands and genres, the result is an interesting mix of quirkiness and heaviness that can rarely be seen today.

While many of the metal bands have serious issues to talk about, sometimes it looks like there's no place to have a little fun and smile a while. If you feel like those guys are taking themselves too seriously then you'll definitely enjoy Lorus. These guys are as heavy as any other sludge metal band can be and they're mostly lumped into the genre because of the guitar work (or also in prog metal for their intricate song structures), but the mayor difference here is all thanks to Alan and his magical keyboard. The keys are mostly responsible for the quirky and cheerful atmosphere on Deluge, while Dylan, the guitarists, keeps a balance with his heavy and crunchy (and at times head banging) riffs. The drums and bass add that well needed backbone to Lorus' sound. The songs are bombastic, very dynamic and they never follow a blueprint of sorts so there's always something interesting to look for in every song. Heck!, there's even a jazz section in one song and an ambient part in another! Having said that, they aren't all over the place, and they do manage to stay focus and be diverse within the confinements of their sound.

By the end of the album you'll be left wanting for more. Their unique blend of styles and attitude is very addicting and you'll be tempted to push play as soon as the album finishes and the only thing to quench that desire is to keep an eye out for Lorus and wait for their next move. A promising band that won't disappoint. If only the album was a bit longer...

3.5 out of 5