Equilibrium is a typically heavy, slow, doomy album from
Crowbar, breaking in new drummer
Sid Montz (the band's third). It's also a good one, featuring just the right balance between melody and the band's signature, sludgy instrumental attack. There are a couple of novel touches as well: "To Touch the Hand of God" is a haunting dirge arranged only for piano and harmonized vocals, and the band also borrows a page from the
Type O Negative book, covering a '70s pop chestnut in gothic-doom fashion (in this case,
Gary Wright's "Dream Weaver," which is actually pretty effective in spite of the inherent irony, thanks to the haze of desperation imparted by
Crowbar's trademark style). Still, this release doesn't radically reinvent the band's sound; rather, it's another solid example thereof, and a worthy addition to the band's discography. ~ Steve Huey