Danava (CD - 2006)

Although the logo on Danava's self-titled EP may resemble that of a death metal group (where the band's name is almost impossible to decipher), the music is nothing like Morbid Angel. The Portland, OR quartet (for the record, their name is pronounced "Don-Uh-Vuh") specializes in a sound that is hard to pin down to a single genre, as they somehow manage to touch upon metal, prog, and glam (cool '70s glam, not godawful '80s glam) all at the same time. In fact, as evidenced by such tracks as "Quiet Babies Astray in a Manger" and "By the Mask," the band somehow manage to touch upon all three styles in the span of a single song. And keeping in line with their retro sound/approach, the group also dresses the part -- early-'70s hair styles and threads (judging by the band shot inside the CD case). ~ Greg Prato minimize