The following review is from a South African zine. It sums up a lot of what HERBERT is. Nightshade Magazine http://www.nightshade-magazine.de/Demo-Zone/Herbert.htm Demo-Review by Paul Drosdzol Rating: 10 out of 10 To those of us that love the genre, there are many splendid forms of Doom Metal. There is the soaring, Romantic, type that is carefully crafted by groups like CANDLEMASS and SOLITUDE AETURNUS; the angry, ugly(and very rewarding) Sludgecore of CROWBAR, EYEHATEGOD, BUZZHOVEN and GRIEF; the eery avant gardism of Finland's SKEPTICISM; the classic style, represented by BLACK SABBATH, PENTAGRAM, TROUBLE and ST VITUS. Then there is Stoner Doom, a brand of Doom that has gained a great deal of popularity(in an underground way, of course) in the past couple of years. CATHEDRAL and KYUSS are good placed to start on the slow, smoky road to Stoner. Crucial to the creation of Stoner Doom, it goes without saying, is the partaking of herbal restorative(the variety that is crushed and then smoked) - you've got to stop and smell the ganja, dude. That is what usually makes this aromatic branch of Doom so, well, slooooooooooow. It is also a music that has a deep, deep fondness for all things `70's - from the tie-dyed threads and absurdly expansive flares to the 'underground' musics of BLACK SABBATH(although there is not one Doom band alive - no matter what style they play - that does not find its roots in this crucial band), URIAH, DEEP PURPLE and their hirsute ilk. HERBERT, from California, US, are no exceptions to the Stoner Doom rule and their "Chrysalis" demo is as good as any example of this peculiar Metal side-path. First of all, let me congratulate HERBERT on the sparkling professionalism of their presentation - the packaging of "Chrysalis" is class, the production is pellucid and the musicianship throughout is awesome. HERBERT are not a particularly slow Doom outfit, specialising instead in a compelling midpaced groovathon - take the opening one-two "Devil's Garden" and "Somewhere Close to Nowhere" - that captures the most befuddled interest. And they can get quite heated too(chill, dude), as envinced by "Buried in Greed", which plain old rocks. Largely responsible for keeping proceedings unstagnantly flowing along is the excellent rhythm section of Paul Cuccia and Steve Isle. Drummer Isle is particularly adept, bringing to mind classic Rock sticksmen like John Bonham and Bill Bruford. Vocalist Mat Fitzsimmons brings authenticity to HERBERT, while guitarist Mike Anderson keeps those grooving riffs coming. The remarkable and atmospheric "Uglyprettylittlehead" is to dope, lyrically and thematically, what TRAFFIC's "John Barleycorn" was to liquor. Cool. The jazzy intro and central swing of "Voodoo Swing" reveal that HERBERT have the chops and flexibility to become a celebrated band. I don't know what term Californians use for marijuana that is very good. Round here we use the expression 'the berries'. HERBERT are the berries, my friends. And "Chrysalis is a stone classicwhich is reason enough to light up another one. 
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Here's a review from the infamous Martin Poppoff, who has done more rock/metal reviews than probably anyone on the planet. Hard Reviews by Martin Poppoff http://www.hardradio.com Herbert - Chrysalis (UglyPrettyLittleMusic) This unassuming little indie tugged my ear with its subtle crossing of stoner metal with progressive or jam band tendencies. I believe the band wants to be called progressive rock, but that's way off field, Herbert really loping like a drunken Orange Goblin or Monster Magnet(vocals sound like Wyndorf) but using their healthy non-classification vibe to fool with time signatures and generally throw curves, including lyrical ones and even visual ones like the cover art and look of the band itself, which are all quite non-metal. But make no mistake, this is ruled by old fuzzy guitars, and all the tomfoolery just helps set the band above the old Sabbath re-engineers. Rating: 8 
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Hey, if anyone can translate this Italian review of the album, send it to buckwylee@yahoo.com and you rule, I'll send you HERBERT shirt. Sorry Sabotti for the gross transposing of your text. Rock in Access Italian Music Internet Web Newsletter Herbert: Chrysalis Loro si definiscono come gruppo. Detto sinceramante se progressive e inteso come genere musicale qui de progressive non c'`e proprio potrei anche essere d'accordo. ,,Chrysalis" `e un bel platters molto movimentato, anch' esso molto particolare. Non lo nego. Pero c'`e molto heavy ani settanta `e il vocalist Mat Fitzsimmons ricorda non poco l' Pzzy Osbourne giovincielo. Cosi come le Iiriche che ci riconducono dirrettamente ai primi dischi di Black Sabbath. Ebbene si. Questo platters `e molto sabbattiano e molto seventies anche. se I suoni impressi sono molto personlizzati da suoni psichedelici, alternativi, classico delle band. Di ottre Oceano. Un discreto platters che potrebbe incuriosire qualche lettore.Comun que fatto sta che non ha nulla per potersi catalogare come band progressive. Se vi interessano.Fatevi vivi! Sabotti Luigi 
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Here is one from Dynamite! Metal News' own Joel Ansier. Yes, HERBERT sounds FAT on your stereo! Turn it up, play it loud, it's the Netherworld sounds of HERBERT! Dynamite! Metal News Review by: Joel Ansier Date: 12/09/98 Online: http://metalnews.simplenet.com/herbert.htm Herbert - Chrysalis - UglyPrettyLittleMusic (64:17) Grade/Rating: B- (1) Devil's Garden (2) Somewhere Close to Nowhere (3) Buried In Greed (4) the Warsong (5) UglyPrettyLittleHead (6) Voodoo Swing (7) Chrysalis (8) Cattle Call (9) Another Smiling Mask (10) Fever Queen (11) This is What it is (12) Interlude: Believer (slight return) Herbert is an independent progressive-alternative-metal band out of Santa Cruz, California. Their style is highly reminiscent of old Black Sabbath and Dio tunes, but with a 90's alternative rock sound thrown in, along with an almost punkish beat. The twelve songs on offer are all competently performed; one listen should be all it takes to convince you that these guys have talent. I'm not the biggest fan of dirge metal, but Herbert certainly does it well. While the brooding vocals can seem a little heavy-handed, Chrysalis is definitely entertaining, perfect for when you want something fat and heavy to come blasting out of your speakers. Fans of Black Sabbath will have and absolute field day with this release. 
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