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On the heels of their 2010 debut album, The Séance, Sweden's Noctum have decided to release a three-song EP of their brand of Doom Metal to keep the fans' attention. The Fiddler features two new songs, the title track and "The Serpent Bride," along with a cover of Pentagram's "Lazy Lady."

Doom Rock is probably a more accurate description of Noctum's music. Firmly in the Black Sabbath camp, the songs on The Fiddler can also be compared to Witchfinder General and the aforementioned Pentagram. There is a definite 70's (and earlier) psychedelic groove running through the EP. Singer/guitarist David Indelof sounds like a higher pitched, and sometimes off key, Glenn Danzig, but other than that, the band is solid. While the singing is suspect, the music on both "The Fiddler" and "The Serpent Bride" would fit in with what you hear on the first four Black Sabbath albums. Slow, heavy guitars and bass are the order of the day.

I have not heard the debut, but if The Fiddler is any indication, fans of early Doom and the NWOBHM may want to keep an ear open for the next Noctum album.