Album review: Friends Of Hell – God Damned You To Hell

As an idea, Friends Of Hell are everything a doom fanatic could want. Named in honour of the second album by Stourbridge legends Witchfinder General, and dedicated to a staunchly heavy metal stripe of doom in the vein of Candlemass, Tony Martin-era Black Sabbath and their namesake, theirs is an exercise in such things from people who truly know their cursed onions.

Their self-titled 2022 debut brought together such experts as former Electric Wizard/Great Coven bassist Tas Danazoglou on drums, and Reverend Bizarre's Albert Witchfinder on vocals, for a record that was everything one might expect from its ingredients. God Damned You To Hell sees the addition of guitarist Beelzeebubth of Brazilian black metallers Mystifier to the ranks, and Iron Maiden-obsessed Nifelheim singer Hellbutcher taking the vocal reins. Little else has changed: the crusade remains very much a righteous one of good, old-fashioned doom.

Those looking for ear-destroying fuzz and a musical abyss into which one can gaze until it gazes back will be left wanting, but metal maniacs will be delighted at the way the opening title-track gallops thunderously along, or the enormous, hammering chorus of Let The Devil Take You. Bringer Of Evil, with its enormous, clean chorus and epic guitar work, is beamed straight from 1986. And if you don't recognise the nod to Sabbath's A National Acrobat in Snakes Not Sons, this probably isn't for you.

Among the doom, there's flashes of everything right and good about classic metal, like Cross Inverter's nods to Mercyful Fate, and the touches of Maiden, Rainbow and Thin Lizzy in the guitars throughout. Hellbutcher's vocals are the perfect topper, a far cry from his growls in Nifelheim, instead showing off what a good singing voice he actually has. When he goes big, he's in the same grand area as Candlemass' Messiah or Bruce Dickinson, while also possessed of a sinister tone of wickeness and mischief a la King Diamond.

It's a lot of worship, yes, but you only get results like this from true believers. Doom maniacs will want to make the acquaintance of Friends Of Hell. All others, go there.

Verdict: 4/5

For fans of: Candlemass, Procession, Black Sabbath

God Damned You To Hell is out now via Rise Above