Every once in a while, a band comes along that grabs everybody's attention. Green Lung, from the English capital city of London, caused a buzz pretty quickly after the release of their debut EP, "Free The Witch" and the following year unleashed their first album, "Woodland Rites." The record almost immediately made them darlings of the doom and stoner metal scene, thanks to their excellent use of original heavy metal music, modern sound, and folk horror influences at a time when the genre has seen a renewed interest thanks to movies like The Witch and Apostle. Their sophomore album, "Black Harvest" was released to strong reviews in 2020 and now, the quintet are ready to release their seminal third album, "This Heathen Land."

Hoping to continue their run of good fortune, "This Heathen Land" taps into what's made them so successful thus far, beginning with the prologue, which sets the scene perfectly. From there, the folk horror festivities commence with "The Forest Church," which features a moody verse reminiscent of old films such as The Blood On Satan's Claw, before an explosive chorus gets the head banging. "One For Sorrow" also makes great use of these movie inspirations by treating fans to a creepy vibe with an emotional edge, all before the song begins with a particularly nasty guitar tone.

Musical influences, especially from Black Sabbath and Witchfinder General, are present of course and Green Lung really knows how to use them. The single "Maxine (Witch Queen)" is unquestionably one of the best songs the band has ever written and was a wise choice to advertise the album with, being incredibly catchy with a heavy emphasis on the organ. "Mountain Throne" is also a highlight, containing a wonderful groove that really gets the body moving" and will stay with the listener long after the end of the album. For more of this kind of thing, "Hunters In The Sky" will satisfy your cravings.

There does seem to be a little disconnect halfway through the album, as the pairing of "One For Sorrow" and "Songs Of The Stones" takes away a good chunk of the momentum the album has built to that point, with the latter verging on becoming boring. "This Heathen Land" does revive the hard rocking tempo and fun times once "The Ancient Ways" kicks in though, which gets things running smoothly once again. Finally, the record closes with "Oceans Of Time," a song that ventures into different pacing and atmospheres, opening with the mellow intro which at times makes the track feel like it's bordering on being a ballad.

"This Heathen Land" is an excellent example of occult rock's influence on doom and stoner metal and will keep interest in the band high. It doesn't reach the heights of Green Lung's debut album, but it's got a lot to offer. There are some songs that will stay in the band's setlists forever and rightfully so, as they're perfectly crafted and very memorable. For doom metal fans seeking a modern band that totally gets their roots, Green Lung are the band they want. With "This Heathen Land," they deliver on what both the hype and the fans say about them and no matter your taste in the slower side of metal, they'll give you something to enjoy.