London's
Green Lung
has been administering huge Sabbathy riffs and Albion folk-rock vibes to the underground since 2017. After delivering a pair of greasy occult-rock gems (2019's
Woodland Rites
and 2021's
Black Harvest
), they set their unholy compasses to the mainstream and inked a deal with
Nuclear Blast
.
This Heathen Land
retains its predecessors' penchant for pairing grainy Hammer Films gothic horror with stoner-psych muscle, but it does so with the golden patina of major label money. Far removed from the sinful flash and dazzle of
Ghost
, though there are plenty of apt comparisons to be made aesthetically,
leans harder into classic NWOBHM and noodly English space rock, achieving a moody sort of grandeur that feels more stone circle-suited than stadium-ready.
Tom Templar
's nasally vocals echo
Ozzy
and
Tobias Forge
with post-grunge undercurrents, while the band maintains a steady and inventive backdrop rooted in Hammond organ and twin guitar-led sonic worldbuilding that evokes
King Diamond
by way of
Deep Purple
. ~ James Christopher Monger