The meanwhile third full-length of the band around Victor Griffin (ex-PENTAGRAM/DEATH ROW) is one of the best Doom albums I know. Though the boys from Knoxville, Tennessee rather play the rocking version of this style. Sort of a more contemporary version of BLACK SABBATH, PENTAGRAM and TROUBLE.

All of the songs sound grown-up, developed and exalted. You can't play this music with more passion and cooler than that, this is made sure alone by the incisive voice of Griffin. He has probably got the “most commercial” voice in the Doom circus. A genre that is dominated by Ozzy clones, crybabies and ball pincher singers. Not that I don't like the arcane thing in this style at all ... PLACE OF SKULLS could also please a METALLICA fan as the vocals are in Hetfield's pitch here but leave him far behind. Furthermore, our friends don't stiffen on slow motion sounds but rock properly, sometimes even groove and intersperse subtle arcs of suspense in order to acoustic guitars.

There aren't any bad pieces here. I won't forget things like “Prisoner's Creed” or the divine title track anymore. This thrilling dramatic art almost enravishes to tears. With “Relentless” even a song from PENTAGRAM days can be heard. Despite quite simple riffage (or even that's why) the thing grooves like hell! “We The Unrighteous” is reminiscent of relaxed TROUBLE. Whereas the terrific last dance “Changed Heart” rather reflects the fragile side of the band.

All songs are super cool and I find that PLACE OF SKULLS succeeded in giving new impulses to a quite antiquated genre without denying their own roots. Godlike! (Online March 30, 2006)