Om

Om's first record for new label Southern Lord opens with "Pilgrimage," a slow spark of bass and drums modeled after the brilliantly mellowed-out Black Sabbath classic "Planet Caravan." Al Cisneros may be the only person on Earth who can pull off the song's whispered chant-vocals without sounding corny. This is quieter all around than Om's first two albums; about halfway through the second track, "Unitive Knowledge of the Godhead," you will come to the conclusion that the brain-massaging bass tones and semi-intelligible prayers are really starting to heal your inner snake man.