Review by Adam M on August 10, 2009.

A really spastic approach highlights this band styles quite well. They certainly have the raucous element of their music playing quite in tune. This leads them to play in a number of different directions that could be seen as slightly off-kilter to some and this makes it difficult to follow along with exactly what they are trying to portray as effectively as one would entirely want to.

The sound isn’t exactly the most poignantly impressive type I’ve heard as the band go through a very odd styling that’s difficult to pin down although the hardcore overtones overrun all here. They make things really difficult to listen to with a compassionate standpoint as the music just permeates around too frequently. They still come across with an energetic outpouring, to some extent, its just not allowed to take full fruition as they delve into mediocre territories with their style. One would expect a more controlled version of the chaos to be found, but the band are dead set on their particular techniques. The album is slightly more effective when looked at from the perspective of a straight up hardcore work, where the crazy natures are more suited to what you might expect from that genre.

People looking for an album where they can come to high grips with the riffs and thoughts that are present may want to look elsewhere as this album is a big difficult to appreciate thoroughly from a style point of view. Perhaps those interested in the hardcore genre might have slightly more to get from this album then.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 5.5
Atmosphere: 5
Production: 6
Originatlity: 5.5
Overal: 5.6

Rating: 5.5 out of 10

Review by Adam M on August 10, 2009.

A really spastic approach highlights this band styles quite well. They certainly have the raucous element of their music playing quite in tune. This leads them to play in a number of different directions that could be seen as slightly off-kilter to some and this makes it difficult to follow along with exactly what they are trying to portray as effectively as one would entirely want to.

The sound isn’t exactly the most poignantly impressive type I’ve heard as the band go through a very odd styling that’s difficult to pin down although the hardcore overtones overrun all here. They make things really difficult to listen to with a compassionate standpoint as the music just permeates around too frequently. They still come across with an energetic outpouring, to some extent, its just not allowed to take full fruition as they delve into mediocre territories with their style. One would expect a more controlled version of the chaos to be found, but the band are dead set on their particular techniques. The album is slightly more effective when looked at from the perspective of a straight up hardcore work, where the crazy natures are more suited to what you might expect from that genre.

People looking for an album where they can come to high grips with the riffs and thoughts that are present may want to look elsewhere as this album is a big difficult to appreciate thoroughly from a style point of view. Perhaps those interested in the hardcore genre might have slightly more to get from this album then.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 5.5
Atmosphere: 5
Production: 6
Originatlity: 5.5
Overal: 5.6

Rating: 5.5 out of 10

Review by JD on February 27, 2012.

Doom Metal in Canada is a very small scene, but it seems to be growing around the country with its mournful heaviness. Adding their name to the growing heavy ranks of Doom here in the great white north, comes a Toronto based Doom/Stoner act named Keef (part of a pot plant).

Sounding a lot like if they are in the running for Canadian answer to Black Sabbath, Keef is an interesting act indeed. With strong riffs, interesting lyrics and a lead singer that could pass for a very young Ozzy the band seems to be at odds with itself. One side needing to offer up originality and the other wanting to pay honour to their heros that started them on this musical trek. The results ended up being an amazing one.

With mid-tempo Sabbath inspired riff and this remarkable and still uncanny knack to write strong melodies that stick with you long after the album has stopped, Keef comes across as a band on the verge of something pretty good. Disastrously thin production values and sometimes the loss of the vocal track dog the effectiveness of the album, but the majestic heaviness and impressive writing abilities still came through with a vengeance. It is not a perfect album but I found it to be enjoyable.

If Keef can continue to grow and solve the recording glitches they have on their next opus, this band will make a huge mark. This band is a massively heavy band that need to be recorded with all of that pure and massive sound completely intact and unfettered by any restraints. That will be the signal that this band will take over the worlds stage.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship:9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 6
Originality: 9
Overall: 9

Rating: 8.4 out of 10