The Black Is Never Far [Import]

Place of Skulls | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 2, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Exile on Mainstream
• ASIN: B000D4DM1W
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,596 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Doom shall rise, May 21, 2006

By 

Murat Batmaz (Istanbul, Turkey) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Black Is Never Far (Audio CD)

Just looking at the current and former members of Place of Skulls should be enough to indicate what an amazing band they are. Consider this list of acts: Pentagram [US], Saint Vitus, The Obsessed, Trouble, Spirit Caravan, Novembers Doom, and others. Place of Skulls has been around for quite some time, and despite being a die-hard doom metal fan, The Black Is Never Far is my first introduction to them. This is their third album.

Place of Skulls is led by former Pentagram guitarist Victor Griffin who handles also the vocals on the album. Griffin is accompanied by the ferocious bassist Dennis Cornelius from Oversoul, another kick-ass doom band. And Tim Tomaselli is responsible for the drumming. The trio have created an amazing piece of work, with varied soundscapes and dynamic arrangements. The album makes a safe start with "Prisoner's Creed" that recalls St. Vitus with its relentless old school riffs and slightly blues-tinged solo. Griffin's vocals fit right in as he proves he is as expressive a singer as he's a guitarist. The band's deeply Sabbath-rooted musicality is displayed on cuts like "Sense of Divinity" and "Apart from Me", both of which boast crazy soloing from Griffin. Actually the former is a lot more experimental than most of the Sabbath reportoire; it's a song that moves from sludgy build-ups to frenzied solos to tense silences. It is a very dramatic song and helps set the grey tone for the rest of the album.

Expanding on Griffin's love for the contrast between really heavy and soft passages in songs, the trio experiment with this approach on "We the Unrightous", a song whose lyrics address corrupt politicians, with the softer parts helping the band to convey their messages. However, there are also entirely acoustic numbers on the album: "Darkest Hour", my personal favourite, begins with gloomy acoustic guitars, employing some rhythmic variations, and even Opeth-like breaks. The solo by Griffin on this song sends chills down the spine; I love this one so much that I even thought this may be the most moving lead I've heard all year. Each note is there to make a point and the fluidity in his expression is stunning. The title track is also mostly acoustic-based, but they do highlight some of the darker moments with forceful guitar attacks and the song is finalised with another nice lead solo.

By the way, it is worth mentioning that three out of the thirteen songs on the album are just short intros that are usually below the 20-second mark. One of these pieces, simply titled "Interlude", serves to heighten the very bluesy and, dare I say psychedelic, "Lookin' for a Reason". What a song indeed. Painful acoustic guitars are strummed slowly as a forlorn saxophone theme soars above the piece and Griffin ventures into a bluesy solo that is a bit like Jerry Cantrell's earlier work in Alice In Chains (a similar pattern is followed on the heavier "Masters of Jest" by the way). Again the soloing on this song is beyond my abilities to explain. This album, while holding oldschool treasures, is also a perfect amalgamation of unique riff construction, poignant melodies, and spiritual lyrics.

Place of Skulls have released a very powerful doom metal album, which ranks up with the best works of their former bands and will appeal to fans of other amazing groups such as Cathedral, Solitude Aeturnus, Candlemass, and of course 70's Black Sabbath.

Doom shall rise.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!, April 27, 2007

By 

Brent E. Johnson (Naches, WA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Black Is Never Far (Audio CD)

With the rise of the doom/sludge/stoner genre to prominence it seems that Place of Skulls would get more notice. Yet they seem to remain in the cult status the members former bands were in. Hardcore fans revere them but those finding bands like Wolfmother, Black Stone Cherry and others should be checking POS out to really hear the genre done right. Griffin loves the stop start effect of going heavy to light sonically and the vocals fit the overall mood perfectly. The Black Sabbath influence is extremely heavey with dashes of Trouble and even some Deep Purple moments added for variety. I wonder too, if the lyrical content is turning some off as Griffin is writing from a christian world view nowadays, albeit, mostly allegorical. I'd say any fan of aforementioned bands as well as all the ones the former members have been in will love this musically and the lyrics should not stop any fan from enjoying the high quality this band represents.

5.0 out of 5 stars Victor Griffin Strikes Again!, January 1, 2011

By 

Timothy Eaton (Manchester, TN, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Black Is Never Far (Audio CD)

Album of the year: 'The Black Is Never Far' courtesy of Place Of Skulls. Bold statement? You bet! Over-reaction? You be the judge.

Place of Skulls has been a musical ticking time bomb since it's initial release of 'Nails'. The pressure built a few millibars for their sophomore effort, 'With Vision.' Of course having Wino (The Obsessed, St. Vitus, Spirit Caravan, The Hidden Hand) in the band didn't hurt any. Now be prepared for an apocalyptic explosion from their latest release.

The album unleashes with the crushing chug of 'Prisoner's Creed.' Great start off song. The sabbath inspired string work of 'Sense of Divinity' is down right ferocious in it's attack. 'Darkest Hour' shows a tinge of an alternative sound during the first minute and then it erupts into an avalanche of bass and melodic guitar playing. This is doom with a sense of salvation.

"If there's freedom out there
Then I believe no price to pay
In my darkest hour
Truth's light will shine the way"

This song is a new personal favorite of mine.

A song like 'The Black Is Never Far' brings out the best in Place Of Skulls. It incorporates shades of 70's rock and 80/90's anthem metal without sounding dated. This would definitely be "one of those cigarette lighter songs", if that act wasn't so damn Bon Jovi-ish.

Another track that can't be overlooked is 'Lookin' For A Reason.' Talk about originality, this number starts with a mellow, jazzy saxophone performance (by Chastity Brown) that segues into a mid-range doom romper, that floats above the ground like an evil mist. Impressive finger work by Victor on this one. Add Victor to your list of guitar gods.

A shining gem to this crown of ebony, is the reworked version of Pentagram's 1985 doom crusher 'Relentless.' Victor Griffin, Dennis Cornelius, and Tim Tomaselli work up a 'skull-a-fied', supercharged version of this classic tune. Doom is alive!

You now have no choice. Hunt down this new metal classic or live with the knowledge that your music collection will forever be incomplete.

DOOM ON!!!

[originally posted on MySpace 10/20/06]