Another in the impressive line of "stoner-rock and doom" artists complements of The Music Cartel, this latest self-titled release from Sweden's Terra Firma definitely heads the list. If you had to pick one of TMC's artists out of their already impressive roster in order to give you a complete understanding of the music and feel for the latest wave of guitar rock domination, this would be the band. Comprised of former members of Unleashed and St. Vitus, Terra Firma is not your average band of 70's cross-toting hippies and societal rejects. On the contrary, put those lava lamps away, they'll do you no good on this ride through spiritual instability.

Yes, classic fuzz rock from yesterday does come into play quite often but it's the advanced feel for song-writing with fast chord changes, off-key rhythms and the force with which they play that gives Terra Firma the extra mileage to charge past the rest of the pack. Are they riding out through space you ask? No, seems more like they belong somewhere between a dark graveyard disturbing the souls at rest and a windy old ghost town, saddles aside, taking center stage in the last chance saloon.

The song titles here range from the psychedelic ("Rainbow Ride") to the totally absurd not to mention confounding ("Goatburn," "Troll Formula") but once inside the song itself, you'll get a rush of adrenaline surging through your veins that'll give you all the high you'll need! Old school metal in the form of Trouble (vocals) and early (1st two albums) Iron Maiden (guitars) quickly surfaces in titles as ".And the 8th Seal Was Hers" and "Spiral Guru" with stellar guitar harmonies and hellacious vocals in the form of Lord Chritus, obscured only by the bombardment of back-beat provided by the drummer-and I'm not even gonna touch his name!

"Separate Graves," located right in the middle of the track listing takes a slower path than the rest; haunting would be a good way to put it-a love song? "Fifth Wheel" takes off with a burst of raw energy and a wickedly fast jam before its conclusion that'll make the hair on the back of your neck stand up! It's a strange feeling, let me tell ya!

Straight ahead hard rock and roll sandwiched around both a trippy yet nocturnal angle that really surprised me just when I was beginning to think this latest scene was getting easy to read. Maybe it's due to the members past work with other name acts, but Terra Firma's newest disc is a 'firm' cut above the rest, and look at this, they save the best for last-"Altered Beast." Thrash it up! Already out on tour with fellow label-mates Orange Goblin as well as famed doom-artists Cathedral out in Europe, if the raw, live in the studio feel of this recording is any indication, this will be a can't miss band to see live! You can take that to heart all you trolls!