The title sums it up: wow. This album is so fantastic in its atmosphere that it's almost unreal. The experience in listening to it is more than satisfying, particularly because it's irrefutable evidence that there are still some worthy songwriters composing quality original material. The songs are catchy enough to be palatable for the more pop-oriented, and heavy enough to cater to the DOOM starved among us. And Jex herself? Beautiful to the eyes and the soul, with a voice that stands bold in the face of all the crooning queens of yore when popular artists were worth our time. This is epic, psychedelic and spellbinding.

(Posted on Amazon.com) Jex Thoth, named after the lead singer, calls what they do "alchemical doom." That's as good a name as anything for this unique and luxuriantly involving music. Though many in the doom and stoner metal communities have praised this record, it's got just as much to do with Amon Duul II and Patti Smith as it does with Black Sabbath and Pentagram. And like all the above-named artists, Jex Thoth crosses a lot of boundaries and can't be easily pigeonholed. The most striking thing, the first thing that will be noticed by any listener, is Jex Thoth's voice. In a word (even though it's an overused word), it's magnificent. The phrase "soaring vocals" is way overused, but the way Jex Thoth sings almost demands that it be used. Her voice is fiery, full-throated, emotional, convincing and dramatic. Even when she sings something borderline preposterous, like "I am the warrior woman, your only hope is to follow me," which would sound pompous or silly coming from most other people, damn if I don't believe it and start packing my stuff. That's how convincing she can be. The songs on this debut (not counting a previous incarnation of the band as Totem) have memorable melodies that stick in your mind for a long while, and despite the sometimes muddy recording quality and the sometimes questionable musicianship of the band (who, goddess bless them, overreach themselves - not a bad thing), the whole album does what music is supposed to do - wrap you up and take you someplace else. The album puts you in a different world. It presents a strong vision and a beautiful voice. Jex Thoth is the real article, not a retro flashback. This is a brilliant and wonderful CD and I can't wait for the next one.