Thergothon

Dead Void – Volatile Forms

By Dear Hollow on September 12, 2022 in Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 11 comments

“I became acquainted with Dead Void through their quiet yet mammoth 2018 demo The Looming Spectre. I was neck deep in the melodic style of death/doom, my only experience with more ominous mutterings consisting of Thergothon or Swallowing, so these Danes’ breed of absolutely devastating death/doom hit me like a ton of slimy bricks. As dead and dripping as the walls of R’lyeh, with a megaton weight that more closely recalled funeral doom, it cranked my excitement meter to a solid 11. When Volatile Forms appeared in the promo dump, I hungrily gobbled it up.” Void if forms removed.

Desolate Shrine – Fires of the Dying World Review

By Ferrous Beuller on March 25, 2022 in Reviews, Death Metal, 23 comments

Desolate Shrine forge big death metal with black and doom elements, so we felt it necessary to get two staffers to do some heavy lifting. Maintain minimum safe distances at all times.

Skepticism – Companion Review

By Grymm on September 22, 2021 in Reviews, 39 comments

“Autumn brings about a slow but captivating decay of leaves turning colors and dying, falling to the ground in a beautiful, somber reminder that life can change in a matter of years to a matter of seconds. So, with the passing of the seasons, now is a great time to pour a glass of your favorite spirit, sit in front of a fire, and partake in Companion, the sixth full-length by legendary Finnish funeral merchants, Skepticism.” Of doom and ice.

Profetus – The Sadness of Time Passing Review

By Cherd on October 9, 2019 in 2019, Avantgarde Music, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Death Doom, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Funeral Doom, 11 comments

“From the first minutes, it will be obvious to followers of the style that Profetus model their slow trudging misery after funeral forefathers Thergothon and Skepticism. This makes sense, as all three bands hail from Finland, home of the world’s most metal bands per capita at two bands per person.” Remembrance of heavy things past.

Chalice of Suffering – Lost Eternally Review

By Cherd on April 24, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Transcending Obscurity, Death Doom, Doom Metal, Funeral Doom, 44 comments

“Grief can seemingly last forever. Whether you’re actively working through it or just passively experiencing its various stages, grief is a marathon, not a sprint. Excitement, on the other hand, is always fleeting. Moments of joy, fright or rage flare up and burn out quickly. Excitement is not a state that can be sustained for long. Grief, sorrow, despondency, these can last indefinitely. There’s a reason grindcore albums never break 30 minutes while funeral doom albums stretch well past an hour. If it takes time to experience, it will take time to express. But listening to the genre at its best isn’t about being patient, as if there’s some reward at the end. It’s more about allowing yourself to be borne along by the slow process. Minneapolis, Minnesota’s Chalice of Suffering—612, represent—is here to take you on a long journey through the deepest despair.” Playing the long winter game.

Adversvm – Aion Sitra Ahra Review

By Grymm on May 9, 2018 in 2018, Doom Metal, Drone, German Metal, Iron Bonehead Productions, Reviews, Doom Metal, Drone, Funeral Doom, 31 comments

“Okay, stop me if you’ve heard this one before: lofty, esoteric song titles and album names, a promo picture of a single dude who looks like one of the choir guys from Batushka and goes by just his initials, and very little-to-no-internet presence at all, so looking for much information on the “band” in question, other than the fact that Adversvm is a German one-man act, is an exercise in futility… all these things would have you screaming, “Fuck, not another one-man black metal band.” And I would sympathize with you completely if it was accurate. You see, though, Adversvm is a one-man funeral doom band hoping to make a name for himself in a steadily-growing genre.” One slow man.

Desolate Shrine – Deliverance from the Godless Void Review

By Ferrous Beuller on November 14, 2017 in 2017, Black Metal, Dark Descent Records, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 65 comments

“It comes as little surprise that Finland, a country whose sun-cycle engenders circadian insanity, is host to a veritable pantheon of definitively heavy bands. Desolate Shrine stand proud amidst their ranks, hoisting aloft a looming colossus of atmospheric death metal to further blot out the sun. Standing on the shoulders of an already potent discography, fourth album, Deliverance from the Godless Void, weaves arcane Incantations through Thergothonian vistas for yet another evocative and doubly crushing outing.” Finland murders the Sun.

Akatharta – Spiritus Immundus Review

By Ferrous Beuller on June 25, 2017 in 2017, American Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Pulverised Records, Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 7 comments

“Sometimes, when that flight of masochistic fancy hits, we here at AMG like to play a little game lovingly referred to as Promo Roulette – not unlike Russian Roulette, but with every chamber loaded with disaster and disappointment. The powers that be randomly assign a project, comfortable in the knowledge that the first, last and only rule of said gamble is: the house always wins. On occasion, however, it is possible to steal a non-fatal cranial grazing and happen upon something worthwhile. So when the relative quality of Akatharta’s debut, Spiritus Immundus, rebounded off my ferrous hide and into my lap, I was pleasantly surprised.” You got lucky, Beuller!

Skepticism – Ordeal Review

By Grymm on September 9, 2015 in 2015, Doom Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Svart Records, Doom Metal, 59 comments

“Live albums are a dicey bag. Not every band has the capabilities to produce something classic along the lines of Live After Death or Alive in Athens, and most certainly not from the funeral doom genre. On top of that, to make your first album after a seven-year absence a live album that’s three-quarters new material? That’s some rather gutsy planning right there….” Play live or die.

Shape of Despair – Monotony Fields Review

By Jean-Luc Ricard on June 18, 2015 in 2015, Doom Metal, Finnish Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Doom Metal, Funeral Doom, 37 comments

If sitting alone in a darkened room, lighting a few candles, uncorking a good claret, and settling in for an uninterrupted hour of beauteous funeral doom sounds like your idea of a fun night in, you’re probably already a fan of Shape of Despair. Discovering that they were finally releasing a new LP after eleven years of waiting left me pert with anticipation.” Slow and low, that is the tempo.