This three piece from Long Island offers us a very strange album, that’s for sure! They have tried to combine ultra-heavy Doom Metal with some Hardcore and Psychedelic elements, and the result comes up very convincing, even if I must admit the vocals got on my nerves in no time and could repel a lot of people. NEGATIVE REACTION use a lot of diverse influences, sometimes they sound like a heavier version of BLACK SABBATH and CATHEDRAL, sometimes they bent more for sludge / funeral Doom. In fact, they have a lot in common with the new breed of bands hosted by the Relapse Records label, like MASTODON, SOILENT GREEN and even CEPHALIC CARNAGE on some occasions (considering the latter have explored the Doom field with their latest MCD “Halls Of Amenti”). The production of this CD is absolutely crushing, the groove being ever present thanks to a tight as hell rhythm section, the bass lines in particular are punishing. Like I said before, the idea to use Hardcore-oriented shrieks and screams is not very good in the NEGATIVE REACTION case, but after all it is purely a matter of taste. The album really lifts off from the third cut on, let’s say that the two first tracks are rather average, so don’t judge this album by only listening to them. What appears as a the strongest point here is that the NEGATIVE REACTION music sounds fresh and brings forth a new form of extremity in Metal, so that’s a change from the legion of middle of the road bands relying on safe formulas. Oddly enough, I even found a riff more or less stolen from WITCHFINDER GENERAL on the ‘Scum And ViIlany’ track while the standout track is for me ‘Price On A Head’, with its fantastic chorus, where vocalist / guitarist Ken E. Bones eerily sound like a demented Tim Baker (CIRITH UNGOL) on steroids. Well, I can’t say much more about this CD, except for the fact that I warmly recommend it to your attention. Stay away from this if you can’t stand Doom at all, but in case you are a Doom devotee like yours truly, buy this without delay, because NEGATIVE REACTION (a risky moniker) have certainly a lot to offer. Not essential, but worth to listen. More info at: www.psycheDOOMelic.com.