Doom core veterans from Germany, Undertow, bring us their latest album, called “34ce”. Slowly but steadily the band is moving into a direction they can truly call their own. Not in every perspective original, but if one would play a song like “34ce” on the radio I would recognize it as being Undertow. That’s worth something, right?

For a threesome they create a very fine wall of sound. Especially the guitar tones are sublime, fat, rich and creamy. Also, the drums pound a very nice beat (do I hear double bass drums in “Captured”?). Anyway, for the most part this type of music doesn’t like to explode into a frenzy too much. Its tempered nature - long sloping chords - makes you long for that sudden eruption.

Well, except for the hardcore influenced slam dunk “w.o.t.”. Highlight of the album is the tranquil “BushIDo”. Singer Joshi manages to vary his vocals much better than on previous work, although he could have done a fine job replacing James Hetfield for each time he got burned or broke a limb skateboarding.

Too bad the band doesn’t stray from the beaten path now and then ‘cause there’s more than enough room for some experiments or adding some extra layers to their thick sound, creating a little more depth than the in your face sound they uphold now.