CASKETS OPEN - CONCRETE REALMS OF PAIN

The fourth full length already from the Finnish 3-piece Caskets Open. The three guys have been in a few doom projects throughout the years and by that way, they've gained a lot of experience. I'm not really familiar with this kind of metal music but in the past, there have been a few bands that I absolutely adored that have some familiar shared elements with Caskets Open.

Just by listening to the first few songs, the comparison will be drawn quickly with big bands like Reverend Bizarre and of course Type O Negative but for me personally, the band has a bit of Crypt Sermon too. The vocals especially remind me of Reverend Bizarre.

But Caskets Open is not just a comparison band, they don't make the music just to sound like their idols. One of the elements that makes Caskets Open interesting, is the element of punk. At least for me. The doom metal is really the main genre in the music of Caskets Open. It is not like the lightning fast punk but the slow/mid paced punk we all know and love.

After a few songs, you will notice that the punk element is being replaced by almost full on doom metal songs. At one moment during the album, the song 'White Animal' pops up. I don't know if they've done this on purpose but at the exact halfway point during the song, the tempo changes from a full on slow doom song towards a lovely punky/heavy/doom metal song. That takes some balls but Finnish people already have those so combine that with the experience they have, then you'll be fine.

I think my favourite song of the album is 'Tunnel Guard'. It has everything that Caskets Open do have to offer. It is the fastest song on the album however the traditional doom elements are far from present. You will get that during the other songs on 'Concrete Realms Of Pain'. Not saying that the other songs are bad, they certainly are not, they are different from 'Tunnel Guard'.

For what Caskets Open does, they do it more than good. It's an enjoyable record to listen to. Wise Blood Records is doing the tape release and there is no reason if you love Crypt Sermon/Reverend Bizarre and Type O Negative not to pick up this record.