Full Review:

If you read my review of Pariiah’s four-song debut, “Swallowed by Fog,” you’ll know how enamored by that under-the-radar doom-metal release I was. Pariiah’s six-song follow-up “Many Shall Fall” ups the ante, proving that small things often come in small packages. I’ll add that many things we cherish most often fly under the radar. The current lineup features Paul Andress (Mothman, The Nolan Gate, and a respected visual artist) and Adam Paterson (Books Lie, Change Order, and Jersey City Tattoo Co.) Perhaps most notable is Alexandria Nelson, who played with surf-rockers Coffin Daggers. Nelson’s performance on the Theremin, amongst other electronic instruments, might be a first in this subgenre of metal. The theremin, an electronic oscillator best known for its use in “Good Vibrations” and innumerable cheesy horror and scifi soundtracks. substitutes here for the bass, an instrument I find essential to any band performance. Each of the six entries on “Many Shall Fall” is exceptional and praiseworthy, featuring all of doom-metal’s signature heavy, thick, and sludgy elements; easily recognizable and not-so-recognizable movie samples add flavor to the recipe. Elements of the title song leave the most devastating mark. Overall, it is a record worth mentioning among greats such as Sleep, The Sword, and High on Fire.