Italian band ELEVATORS TO THE GRATEFUL SKY was formed sometime around 2011, and released an initial self-titled EP the following year. Just over a year later they were ready with their full length debut album “Cloud Eye”, which was released through Swedish label Transubstans Records in December 2013.

Elevators to the Grateful Sky joins the crowds of bands that has a strong affection for the music of yesteryear. While they don’t have a total focus on music of the kind that was created a generation or two back, their debut album is one that is impossible to describe without namedropping a couple of the great names in the history of hard rock.

The most prominent feature throughout are warm, organic, dark and massive guitar riffs of the kind that is impossible to listen to without mentioning Tony Iommi and Black Sabbath. Second track Sonic Bloom arguably contains the most Sabbath oriented riff on this production, but the trademark, vintage doom metal of Black Sabbath is a recurring feature throughout.

A less dominating trait that appears on a handful of occasions points the finger towards another band from the very same era. In this case more of a nod in a certain direction I guess, but a carefully used effect throughput is a light toned, reverberating guitar detail just about all fans of Led Zeppelin will recognize. If I recall correctly this small detail is rather close to one used in Zeppelin’s classic Houses of the Holy, although my memory may be at fault on the specific song. Still, in this case this is a minor detail. But one worth mentioning as it is in a rather strong contrast to just about everything else on this production, and due to that a detail that you will take notice of.

Other aspects of this production points in rather different productions altogether. One track sports a riff that could have been lifted from Hawkwind’s classic “Hall of the Mountain Grill” album, in this case I presume this is accidental rather than planned though, and at least on one occasion the doom-laden riffs used has a monumental, massive sound to them that brings them closer to the likes of later day doom bands such as Electric Wizard. There’s also a nice, twisted guitar solo on Turn in My Head that merits a mention, as it gave me an instant association to good, old Ministry. Which was unexpected in this context.

But the main expression here, besides the vintage doom metal one, is that of contemporary stoner rock. Compact, circulating riffs in high energy runs, where a name like Queens of the Stone Age comes to mind. Elevators to the Grateful Sky appears to add something of a punk vibe to their take on this style though, mostly by way of the vocals but also at least to some extent through the guitar approach. This latter aspect is also a distinct feature on the one off garage rock and punk combo explored on Upside.

The end result is a charming production. Not a brilliant piece of musical delight as such, but a mixed candy bag with some delicious bites here and there in between treats of a more everyday nature. A perfect audience for this album would be those equally fond of vintage 70’s doom metal, stoner rock and punk I guess, and a slight affection for garage rock and Led Zeppelin’s later day productions might come in handy too.

My rating: 70/100