Emulating doom/heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath and Pentagram requires few components to pull off; it is not advanced calculus. Creating a musical force from this sphere that is relevant, however, requires the mastery of intangible measures most fail to grasp. For Arcana 13, these attributes, namely atmosphere, are invoked through their inspirations of horror, giving off its tense vapors, an Electric Wizard without the drugs. The Sabbath-esque drawls and doom-laden notations strike true to the intended image, seldom deviating from the annotations of groups whose seeds bloom with doom, but without giving an impression that this is a mere tribute. While the songs are loaded with catchy riffs and choruses, it is the atmosphere that is the key to the magic of "Danza Macabra."

The vocals, although ringing true to the tones of doom gods, are ethereal and cryptic, adding a tenebrous layer to the Sabbath-inspired instrumentation. The manner of Arcana 13 takes on an occult, dreary semblance through which the essence of classic heavy metal emerges to invoke themes of horror and dread that feel authentic, not forced. "Danza Macabra" features a startling amount of variety between its numbers, though the inferences between songs are extremely delicate. The psychedelic vibe of "Oblivion Mushroom" transitions from the occult rock/doom metal core of the first three tracks with the creepiness and groovy balance still in place. Arcana 13 even covers the theme of "Suspiria," poisoning the original to take on the toxic form of their esoteric attack.