World Below is a straight-forward doom metal outfit from Sweden, and ‘Maelstrom’ is their second full length effort. And a successful one at that. Unfortunately, there really isn’t much to say other than that this is a very solid effort. It’s not over done, yet it’s not underachieved.

The best song on here is easily the closing song, “A Future so Dark.” Great lyrics, amazing melody that fits the doom style perfectly, and just heavy enough so it’s not overbearing. The 14-minute epic “Epitaph,” put right in the middle of things, is a damn good example of modern doom. Opener “The Dissection of an Evil Mind” is also a really good song, a perfect intro to the album. The rest of the album is kind of generic doom, but they have their own edge to make it interesting. One thing is for sure, this is a better effort than their debut ‘Sacrifices to the Moon.’ Plus, the best part is that I can listen to this constantly and not get tired of it. That shows what a really strong effort it is.

In the end, if you’re a fan of doom metal, this is for you. If you liked their debut, you’ll like this better. If you’re new to doom, check this out. No, it’s not the greatest out there, but it’s a damn good, solid release. And that’s all that needs to be said.

[This review was first published on the now defunct scandinavianmetal.info webzine]