Cerebus - Too Late To Pray (1986)

The title starts with an almost elegant solo and then bang! A deep, dark sombre chug which bleeds into a whining Maiden-esque riff and tumbling drums. The guitars then cut in, the sound is dense, and we're at full tempo, when sudenly those high vocals coming screeching in, the teeth go on edge and the metal races through the veins. Cerebus are another of those obscure, blood n' thunder metal bands from the '80s who probably sold a handful of records. The stuffy production complements the even stuffier guitars, whilst the fluffy drums on opener 'Running Out Of Time' are as equally dense and lost as the slightly wobbly vocals. There's a touch of the garage about all this, real basement metal, especially with Scott Board's vocal screams, but it lacks the dragon slaying power of some bands, although the fiery 'Catch me If You Can' exists on a rumbling riff and runaway train of a drum. The album doesn't live up the darkness suggested by the cover art, but isn't that nearly always the case ? The bass lead groove of 'Talk Is Cheap' makes for a remarkably catchy listen despite the fact it's a rather self-ndulgent galloping intsrumental whilst 'Longing For Home', my fave track, at six minutes is reasonably epic, perfect for any late night swoon despite those tinny drums. 6.5/10