OK, to dispel any thoughts heading that way as "Heavy Breathing" starts and promptly caves in half your skull with that familiar tone and D-Beat, BLACK BREATH are not from Sweden. In fact, they are from Seattle. Oh, and they really, really like ENTOMBED.

Recorded at God City Studios, "Heavy Breathing" is the first proper album after a well received EP entitled "Razor To Oblivion" and to be honest, while "Heavy Breathing" is not reinventing the wheel and is a little too reminiscent of some well known Swedes, the release contains enough DISCHARGE influence so as not to totally corrode into ultimate riff worship. By the time "I Am Beyond" kicks in with its slow churn of a groove this scribe finds himself looking for some GRAVE, but in all reality the comparison likely comes from hearing the Swedes do it first and, like many a movie franchise, arguably better.

BLACK BREATH will likely serve as a gateway band though, encouraging people who dig the sound to go back a bit further and find others with a similar feel. Now, there is nothing wrong with this release at all really - as a first full album there are some truly crushing moments to be had, and amongst all of the down-tuned fury even a touch of upbeat and accessible Doom, it will be really interesting to watch this band grow on subsequent albums. "Heavy Breathing" is best enjoyed with bourbon, some close friends, a bat and a graveyard. It's a special album that can create that kind of atmosphere, even if, musically, the wheel just keeps on turning.