Salt Of The Earth
The Purity Of Oblivion (CD) 2004 None
It's surprising that there aren't more doom bands from northern Indiana. I mean, you've got your Gary, you've got your Jackson family; isn't that depressing enough? It is to me, and I've never even been there. Evidently the state of things up there has affected the fine gentlemen of Salt of the Earth as well, because they've turned out a hell of a doomed-out demo, and there's not much light in sight. I have it on good authority that Salt of the Earth is a live crusher, and if this disc is any indication then the band must be a fearsome live beast indeed. This is depressed stoner/doom, with an emphasis on the doom. In fact, I'd be tempted to simply call this traditional riffing doom, but it seems to invite you to get busy with your bong, much as stoners of old did in the halcyon days of 'Master of Reality' and 'Paranoid.' I don't throw the names of those hallowed documents around lightly, but when listening to Salt of the Earth you'll agree that any description of their music should start there. 'The Purity of Oblivion's title track has an old school 'Fairies Wear Boots' doom groove, which Paul and Sean's rhythm section carries like a lurching runaway train on a steep downhill grade. 'Not of the Earth' has some great stoned-out wah guitar work, with nice Celtic Frost-like tone. The last tune, 'Under the Influence - of the Moon' is a slow, shambling, 14+ minute destroyer which encourages you to abandon all hope, starkly underlining that sentiment with some depressingly spare and despairing guitar notes about 5 minutes from the end. Rick's guitar work is exemplary throughout, as are his edgy, doom-bellow vocals singing of socially critical themes. Of course there's the Sabbath influence, but there are others as well, most notably Sleep. Lovers of those bands, along with other misery lords like Planet Gemini, Ocean Chief, Mountain Maker, Slow Horse, and good ole' St. Vitus will want to sign up with these depressive Hoosiers. Looking at our upcoming elections, does any other music make sense?	1. The Purity of Oblivion 2. Not of this Earth 3. The Gods and the Dead 4. Under the Influence - Of the Moon Approx. 35 minutes
Reviewed by: Kevin McHugh