UMUR
"Creozoth" is the eponymously titled debut full-length studio album by Swedish heavy/power metal act Creozoth. The album was released through Escapi Music in 2005. Creozoth only existed a few years and this album is their only output. Maybe the timing wasn´t right as Lars Johansson (guitars) and Jan Lindh (drums) were simoultaniously reuniting with their Candlemass bandmates, which probably left little time for Creozoth. Other than the two Candlemass related members mentioned above the lineup consists of Torbjörn Moen (bass) and Michael Storck (vocals). The latter was a pre-album vocalist for Yngwie Malmsteen in the period 1978-1979.
Stylistically this is a pretty riff heavy traditional heavy metal/power metal release. Not doomy like Candlemass, but featuring crushingly heavy riffs and rhytms and Storck´s powerful raw vocals on top. Start to mid-90s Trouble isn´t the worst reference, although Creozoth don´t quite reach the heights of the Americans and are generally a bit more power metal influenced. Although the songwriting is both professional and the songs are well executed (and the album is well produced), I´m missing a few more hooks. I´m enjoying the album while it plays, but it´s not a particularly memorable release. Therefore this one doesn´t end in the highest end of the rating scale, but a 3 star (60%) rating is still warranted.