Fitting right at home with the classic old-school doom metal and trad metal that Shadow Kingdom has made their forte, Argus are another high quality offering of underground doom that the Pittsburgh label has wisely added on to their ever expanding roster. Before Shadow Kingdom came onto the scene a few years ago, there had been a longstanding void for this sort of cult old school metal that they specialize in, but these guys have become one of the best labels around dealing in this stuff, with a stellar lineup of both newer bands that carry the torch of true doom and heavy metal, and some much needed reissues that include a host of crucial Maryland doom albums from the late 80's/early 90's glory days of the scene.
Argus are right at home among all of this doomed goodness. Hailing from the same Pittsburgh area environs that's home to Shadow Kingdom, the band mines a vintage doom metal sound that they've already mastered with their self-titled debut. It comes naturally, seeing as how the band features a couple of doom metal alumni in front man Butch Balich (formerly of doom legends Penance) and Kevin Latchaw (Abdullah). Combining soaring, epic dual guitar harmonies with massive doom riffs and lumbering Sabbathain swing, Argus carve out wicked, chugging metal that's enhanced by Balich's powerful mid-range vocals. Those killer guitar harmonies and some of the arrangements give Argus a somewhat proggy feel, at times reminding me of While Heaven Wept, or Hammers Of Misfortune and Lord Weird Slogh Feg, but more rooted in epic doom. Some other cool touches that appear on the eight song album include the creepy pipe organs and choir voices that introduce "The Damnation of John Faustus", and frequent fist-pumping anthemic hooks...trad doom fans are going to love these guys. They pull off a classic sound without sounding "retro", with some solid songwriting on top of it all. Highly recommended if you're into Candlemass, Trouble, Solitude Aeturnus, Pale Divine, and Penance.