You might not be familiar with Los Angeles doom crew QAALM just yet—more on that below—but we’re betting you know the song “Heaven and Hell” by a band called Black Sabbath. On their new EP, First Light of the Last Dawn, the Los Angeles trio, who released their first album in 2022, take on the classic Dio-era Sabbath track and make it distinctly their own without abandoning what made the original version so great.
The QAALM touch on the cover kicks into overdrive in the last two or three minutes, the band letting the black metal influences seep into their performance. The end result is energetic and authentic, instead of standing as a paint-by-numbers cover.
“Undoubtedly, one of the finest Dio Sabbath moments and a fan favorite,” reflects guitarist/vocalist Henry Derek Elis. “We initially decided to do this one for fun as a bonus track of sorts. We took a more live approach to this one. It’s not perfect and it’s fairly raw overall, but has some great moments. We hope that folks enjoy it.”
You can listen to the cover below and grab a copy of First Light of the Last Dawn here. According to the band, “Heaven and Hell” is only intended for streaming on the physical editions, so bust a move if you like what you hear.
