'Invisible Empire', the second album on which one time Monster Magnet-ers Bob Pantella and Jim Baglino deliver what they call their own "straighter, more rock, more stoner" sound. 

Getting things under way with a decidedly swinging metal beat is 'Breed', and Riotgod are out of the starting blocks in smart fashion. More distorted metal riffs, and a good not un-Mustaine-like vocal delivery from Mark Sunshine to be found throughout; it's a very 'tune' based stoner/metal album, 'Crossfire' and 'Firebrand' being early, thoroughly decent examples of what the band are aiming to deliver.

It's at the half way point, though, that we get what those American chaps would describe as a curveball, in the shape of 'Gas Station Roses'. Having spent the previous five tracks with the fuzz pedal pressed firmly to the metal, the band go all Led Zeppelin 3 on our arses; it's a pleasant harmony filled acoustic workout, even if it sounds like it owes more to the misty mountain slopes of Snowdonia than the dusty deserts of California. The power is back on for the early Judas Priest influences of 'Tomorrow Today', the pace quickens again on 'Saving It Up', before 'Loosely Bound' brings it back to a steady, more traditional metal feel. 'Hollow Mirror' revs it up again before 'Rebirth' brings in yet another ambitious, harmonious acoustic workout that brings about the album's climax; and again, it's pretty good.

If you love a bit of metal, then there's nothing not to like about 'Invisible Empire' by Riotgod, but similarly there's nothing to really love about it either: as they used to say in one of those old music magazines, (Sounds maybe??) buy or blag? Certainly I'd say the latter.

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