It’s rough, it’s sludgy, it’s Aye Mammoth with its new album, Starless Midnight. There is no identity confusion with this album. Murfreesboro hard rock outfit Aye Mammoth knows exactly who it is and knows exactly how to frame its product.

The appropriately named opening cut, “The Coming Storm,” serenades with a slow and solemn swell meant to prepare us for the awe inspiring, heavily distorted storm that is Starless Midnight.

Following the introductory piece, we are plunged into a hellish and intense adventure that recalls the classic video game Doom (because the thick-and-low genre of metal like the one in which Aye Mammoth traffics is often called doom metal).

What separates Starless Midnight from many other hard rock and metal albums is how much attention is given to the blues influence. Aye Mammoth’s members are obviously fans of pentatonic-scale-inspired rock ’n’ roll and aren’t afraid to let you know.

Aye Mammoth—comprised of Micah Loyed, Paul Haggard and Phil Stem, also often favors the revered Black Sabbath in the muddy and chaotic chug and swagger that many have come to love. The influence of more contemporary metal bands such as Queens of the Stone Age is apparent on tracks including “Fury Asunder.”

There are few criticisms for Starless Midnight. The appeal for the genre, and its droning, vocal growl, is very niche-oriented in nature, but Aye Mammoth has crafted a great six-track record that most music fans can potentially groove to. From head to toe, it offers a brief and easy-to-digest selection of songs. Even if you aren’t a fan of the style, I challenge anyone to listen to this album and not rock their head.

Find it, along with past releases from Aye Mammoth, at ayemammoth.bandcamp.com.