ARGUS

Signing ARGUS was a smart move on the part of Cruz Del Sur. Condolences to any label that decided to pass. The self-titled debut on Shadow King Records established the heavy metal doomsters as a force to be reckoned with and on "Boldly Stride the Doomed" the Pennsylvanians have reached elite status alongside stalwarts like HOUR OF 13, SLOUGH FEG, MANILLA ROAD, and THE GATES OF SLUMBER. It'll be nothing short of shocking if ARGUS' sophomore release doesn't end up on numerous 2011 year-end-best lists. It is a beast of an album, an opinion shared by multiple writers that turned in much more timely reviews.

Like similarly recognized overachievers of the style, the ARGUS sound as represented on "Boldly Stride the Doomed" is one based in the rudiments of BLACK SABBATH and early IRON MAIDEN structures and further supported by THIN LIZZY twin-leads and CANDLEMASS' heavy doom metal. As more broadly defined and reinterpreted then, one hears the sound of the above-referenced elite acts, as well as any number of upper tier outfits found on labels like Shadow Kingdom, Planet Metal, etc. Riffs of backbreaking weight, leads at once melodic and melancholy, rolling thunder rhythms, and one hell of a powerful belter in Brian "Butch" Balich is the more specific description. Better termed as Anthems to the Gods, rather than mere songs, the music of "Boldly Stride the Doomed" is oversized, overdriven, and dangerously addictive.

Dive right in anywhere and get knocked off your feet; you won't find a moment on here that doesn't either crush or stimulate. The songs of note are many, but none more anthemic than "A Curse on the World", "Wolves of Dusk", and "42-7-29". Brief instrumental introduction "Abandoning the Gates of Byzantium" (with classical guitar by Zach Jones) sets a tone akin to cinematic grandeur before the album erupts with the quick paced metal might of "A Curse on the World", an unforgettable song rivaled only by the very next track, "Wolves of Dusk", which is even more powerful and may very well stand as the album's shining star. It is the inclusion of Dave Watson's piano playing amidst the more traditionally doomed "42-7-29" that causes a 20-degree drop in temperature, while Balich's anguished howls keep the listener teetering on the edge of the abyss. All things considered, those are the album's Big 3, except that designating them as a such does a disserve to 11-minute classic doom lurker "Pieces of Your Smile" and a title track that is remarkably successful as a two-and-a-half minute up-tempo sneak attack.

In reinforcement of the point, not a song on "Boldly Stride the Doomed" can be ignored. That includes "Fading Silver Light", a harvester of sorrow called "The Ladder" and twin-lead treat titled "Durendal". Three-minute instrumental bookend "The Ruins of Ouroboros" (also featuring Zach Jones") with its sinewy bass line and sweet leads is the grand ending to a fantastic journey. ARGUS does everything right in raising the bar yet again with "Boldly Stride the Doomed".