Album review: Jess And The Ancient Ones – Vertigo

It’s virtually impossible to talk about occult rock without giving a notable mention to Finland’s Jess And The Ancient Ones. From the organ-heavy jam that was their self-titled 2012 debut, right through to the garage-rock psychedelia of 2017’s The Horse And Other Weird Tales, their musical trajectory has gone from strength to strength. Vertigo brings about a slightly heavier return for the band.

Ultimately, they’re as spooky as they’ve ever been, however the riffs have just a little more driving force behind them, dominating things where originally the organ would have led the way. While keys still play a large part, they feel as though they’re there to complement the rest of the instruments, instead of being the focal point. The end result is much more impactful, and each track has a swagger to it, a confidence that’s previously been missing on their other albums. As always Jess is a powerhouse, belting out lyrics about the paranormal with a tuneful ferocity that could rival even the most seasoned of heavy metal vocalists.

The explosion in popularity for doom and all its sub genres still feels fresh, despite being a decade ago, so it’s easy to forget the fact that Jess And The Ancient Ones have been around for more than 10 years. Perhaps them only having released four albums is to blame for that, perhaps it’s the fact that time has apparently lost all meaning, we’ll never know. However, on Vertigo their maturity is beginning to shine through. This is a band that can write a bloody good tune, and this is a record that’s tangible proof.

Verdict: 3/5

For fans of: Blood Ceremony, The Devil's Blood, Jex Thoth

Vertigo is released on May 21 via Svart.

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