Stonerrock.com reviews “Left Hand Man”

Review by John “Arzgarth” Pegoraro, posted to stonerrock.com on November 27, 2007.

It’s a sad truth that it was only a matter of time until the Iraq war/quagmire started directly influencing music. There have been a number of protest songs from Important Artists With Important Things to Say, but by my count, not many that were the result of personal involvement.

Venomin James’ vocalist Jim Meador is among that unfortunate new niche – a good amount of the Cleveland-based group’s Left Hand Man is lyrically inspired by his tour of duty. Good thing the music backs up the dour themes. Much like fellow Ohioans Fuzztub, Venomin James plays a strain of muscular riff rock that touches upon the traditional doom. The band (Meador, guitarists Tomasz Scull and Joe Fortunato, bassist Erin Cocoran, and drummer Jared Koston) doesn’t really stretch out too much – simple and direct is their MO, but that serves songs like “Feed the Flames,” “Downer,” or “El Brujo” well. Same goes for the production, although that could’ve benefited from a little more oomph. It’s one of those albums that hints at what the band sounds like live but doesn’t necessarily deliver at the same level.

All in all, Left Hand Man is a weighty slab of riff-doom-rock. Fans of Down, Solace, and Sixty Watt Shaman ought to give this a shot.

Link: “Left Hand Man” reviewed on stonerrock.com