Review by Sonny for Reverend Bizarre - In the Rectory of the Bizarre Reverend (2002)

I consider Reverend Bizarre to be the epitome of what I would term "true" doom metal. Their slowed down Sabbathian riffs and eschewing of any frills results in a stripped-to-basics sound that is shorn of any pretentiousness and has since been taken up by bands like Pallbearer and Procession. In the Rectory of the Bizarre Reverend, released in 2002, was the Finnish trio's debut and ultimate statement of their doom metal philosophy. It's six songs span an hour and a quarter, ranging in length from five to twenty minutes and are ploddingly slow so, consequently, not for the faint-hearted or doom metal newcomer. Albert Witchfinder's (Sami Hynninen) vocals are functional, but his tone perfectly suits the mood the band are trying to create. Thematically, we're talking Edgar Allen Poe, Vincent Price, Roger Corman territory, so nothing too serious and the only thing about the band that isn't "heavy"! If you love downtuned, extended metal dirges that make no pretense of being high art and are slightly tongue-in-cheek lyrically, then RB should definitely appeal.
As an aside, if you can get the double disc version packaged with the Return to the Rectory EP that weighs in at a whopping 140 minutes (and features the classic love song to Christina Ricci, Goddess of Doom) then definitely go for that as it's more of the same - doom metal nirvana!