Review by JD on February 27, 2012.

Doom Metal in Canada is a very small scene, but it seems to be growing around the country with its mournful heaviness. Adding their name to the growing heavy ranks of Doom here in the great white north, comes a Toronto based Doom/Stoner act named Keef (part of a pot plant).

Sounding a lot like if they are in the running for Canadian answer to Black Sabbath, Keef is an interesting act indeed. With strong riffs, interesting lyrics and a lead singer that could pass for a very young Ozzy the band seems to be at odds with itself. One side needing to offer up originality and the other wanting to pay honour to their heros that started them on this musical trek. The results ended up being an amazing one.

With mid-tempo Sabbath inspired riff and this remarkable and still uncanny knack to write strong melodies that stick with you long after the album has stopped, Keef comes across as a band on the verge of something pretty good. Disastrously thin production values and sometimes the loss of the vocal track dog the effectiveness of the album, but the majestic heaviness and impressive writing abilities still came through with a vengeance. It is not a perfect album but I found it to be enjoyable.

If Keef can continue to grow and solve the recording glitches they have on their next opus, this band will make a huge mark. This band is a massively heavy band that need to be recorded with all of that pure and massive sound completely intact and unfettered by any restraints. That will be the signal that this band will take over the worlds stage.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship:9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 6
Originality: 9
Overall: 9

Rating: 8.4 out of 10