Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Sheavy - Republic? - 2005 - Candlelight Records

Track Listing1. The Rook 2. Hangman 3. Spy vs. Spy 4. Standing at the Edge of the World 5. Revenge of the Viper Three 6. A Phone Booth in the Middle of Nowhere 7. The Man Who Never Was 8. Stingray Part III 9. Imitation of Christ 10. Last Chance... GremlinX

For fans of stoner and doom metal, Sheavy is the oasis in the desert...the strong port in the storm of annoying pop princesses and Hot Topic-inspired Clearasil rock. Signed in 1996 to Rise Above Records, the Canadian quartet have since gained status as underground stoner/doom heroes amongst the fans. Their mix of psychedelic flair and Sabbath-y hooks puts them at the head of a genre that can too easily and too often fall prey to its own tendency to rely on plodding riffs and distortion. You'll find none of that with Sheavy. As a matter of fact, with this new album, they seem to have stepped outside of themselves and delivered something even more extraordinary! The opening track, 'The Rook,' slams us with an angry intensity, unlike anything we've heard on their previous releases. Slab four, 'Standing at the Edge of the World,' shows an ambitious use of change-ups that the guys carry out well. It's just a solidly good track! Cut five, 'Revenge of the Viper Three' starts out like a punch to the face... bass-heavy and undeniably one of the strongest songs on the album.

I could go on and on about everything that makes this album a wonderous, praiseworthy offering to the stoner/doom gods, but I think I'll just tie it all up with one word: ROCK!!!


--Susan Wright 10.02.05