Stillborn - State Of Disconnection (1992)

Stillborn, what a fab Swedish band they were. One of the only 'doom' bands to not ape Sabbath, and a band who somehow managed to melt together groove metal with their sombre sound. These guys released a clutch of records, including the superb 'Permanent Solution' but 'State...' is my favourite, a smooth sounding, almost lazy, laid back style of doom metal. The best comparison I can give them is Confessor although without the painful vocals and jarring structures, Stillborn instead keep the sound big but almost acsual, with those loose yet occasionally gritty vocals, best experienced on the serpentine writhe of 'The Tension Grows.' Somehow Stillborn fit into early '90s alterno metal, their grooves not too far removed from the mighty Soundgarden, but of course, due to a lack of label backing they simply fizzled out. 'State...' is a fine record that showcases a band with incredible talent and who breathed new life into a clogged genre. 7/10