HORN OF THE RHINO - Weight Of Coronation (12" DOUBLE LP Box Set on Colored Vinyl w/ CD)

RIP Rhino, Long Live Horn of the Rhino!

The Spanish band formerly known as Rhino had to undergo a name change due to copyright issues, but fear not, this is the same band that obliterated our senses with their bone-crushing albums 'Breed the Chosen One' (2007) and 'Dead Throne Monarch' (2008). However, 'Weight of Coronation' brings a slightly different vibe to the table.

That being said, their music is still as heavy as a ton of bricks plummeting from a skyscraper. As soon as the opening track "Speaking in Tongues" kicks in, it delivers a gut punch, accompanied by their wonderfully gritty and juicy guitar sound, akin to a monstrous Yeti emerging from a pool of thick, black tar. And if the title alone of the track "Crushed and Drugged to the Swamp" doesn't sound like a diabolical plan, then nothing does.

Yet, the true allure of 'Weight of Coronation' isn't solely in its sheer heaviness. By tossing aside the rulebook, this power trio excels in merging darkness and light. For every bone-rattling riff that comes your way, they seamlessly transition into mesmerizing melodies and even a touch of beautiful 70s rock (yes, you read that right). It's astounding how they can pulverize your skull one moment with tracks like "Mass Burial Punishment" and then, as you lie there battered, serenade you with some ALICE IN CHAINS-infused sludge on "Sovereign," where a delightful Hammond organ trickles over you like honey on a piping hot chocolate cake fresh from the oven. Not many bands can achieve this delicate balance, except when they go by the name HORN OF THE RHINO.

Recorded in Bilbao in March 2010, adorned with Rafa Garrés' unsettling artwork that would give even the most die-hard black metal fan the creeps, and featuring five tracks out of eight that break the eight-minute mark, 'Weight of Coronation' is a must-listen. To top it off, the deluxe vinyl version includes an extra and exclusive cover of Black Sabbath's "Disturbing The Priest" for that added dose of heaviness (as if we needed more). In conclusion, HORN OF THE RHINO is one hell of a band, and 'Weight of Coronation' is one hell of a record that absolutely deserves your attention.