Megaton Leviathan - Past 21 Beyond The Arctic Cell

Something tells me this place does NOT get a lot of pizza deliveries in thirty minutes or less...I will say this: Portland band Megaton Leviathan is one unique band. Sure, they generally fall into the category of doom metal, but they're not just an also ran in the genre. Largely the work of one man, Andrew James Costa, the music has all of the familiar sorts of trappings you'd expect, but it moves at such a slow and deliberate pace - even for doom metal - that you wonder if you switched that speed dial on your iPod player to ½x.

I'll be honest, I can hang with some doom metal, especially the psychedlic kind. But, the ethereal background vocals amidst the glacial tempo of Megaton Leviathan's second studio effort - the curiously named Past 21 Beyond The Arctic Cell - has a compelling drone to it. If you're looking for something mellow in terms of dynamics, but still heavy in terms of vibe, this is your jam.

The Bottom Line: It's nice to find bands that provide a counterpoint to stacatto blast beats and the relentless breakneck pulse of black metal rage bands that sound like a CD stuck on a track forever. And Megaton Leviathan fits the bill with sound that's both heavy and mellow at the same time. Call it...easy listening doom?

- Genghis needs to get his mind right again...