Doom Metal

Yatra – Born into Chaos Review

Yatra – Born into Chaos Review

By Maddog on June 14, 2022 in Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Sludge, Sludge Metal, 10 comments

“Some bands insist on pushing envelopes, demanding listeners’ attention by challenging genre norms and breaking new ground. Yatra is not one of those bands. These Maryland natives had a prolific first few years, releasing a stoner doom debut in 2019 and following it up with two sludgy riff-fests in 2020. Their last album All Is Lost earned praise from our very own GardensTale, establishing Yatra as a lean mean sludge machine without reinventing any wheels. Its follow-up Born into Chaos promises a shift in sound, from the band’s stoner origins to no-frills death metal. As an avowed death metal lover, I couldn’t help but be intrigued.” Yatra, Yatra, Yatra…

Into the Obscure: Sacriphyx – The Western Front

Into the Obscure: Sacriphyx – The Western Front

By Saunders on June 10, 2022 in Into the Obscure, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 22 comments

“We all have our dirty metal secrets that we selfishly keep to ourselves, only sharing with a select few close to us. Or alternatively, we incessantly talk up underground gems and spread the gospel to anyone that will listen, as we cherish our slice of underground cred. Into the Obscure aims to right the wrongs and unearth the artists/albums that for whatever unjust reason didn’t get the exposure, appreciation or credit they sorely deserved the first time round.” War is Hell.

Deathwhite – Grey Everlasting Review

Deathwhite – Grey Everlasting Review

By Steel Druhm on June 9, 2022 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Gothic Metal, 29 comments

“Deathwhite clearly enjoy the role of enigmatic mega-mystery band. For ten long years, they’ve toiled to release dark, gothy-tinged doom music with cascading negative thoughts and feelings, and all without revealing who is actually in the band. Their sound has gone through some evolution over the decade but here on album number three, Grey Everlasting, they’ve firmly locked themselves into the same soundscape as Katatonia and Warning, dropping much of the alt-metal elements in favor of bleak, unhappy odes to bummertude.” Grey is the new grey.

Blue Heron – Ephemeral Review

Blue Heron – Ephemeral Review

By TheKenWord on May 26, 2022 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Stoner Metal, 15 comments

“With their sound palette sorted, the most difficult challenge Blue Heron faces is one of momentum. Stoner doom is inherently relaxed and fuzzy, seemingly tailored for casual listening with or without accompanying recreational substances. Ephemeral appears to be perfectly content inside this mold, and as a direct consequence lacks the kind of excitement that more interesting bands like Wizard Rifle offer.” Desert winds, blue birds.

Assumption – Hadean Tides Review

Assumption – Hadean Tides Review

By Grymm on May 19, 2022 in Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 36 comments

“A band’s name can make or break them. Regardless if you’re a blues band reaching for ominously foreboding atmospheres, or a power metal band named after a cute, furry rodent who loves clay baths, whatever you name yourself lends as much, if not more, importance as your music. So when I happened across Hadean Tides, the second full-length from Italy’s Assumption, I assumed from their “death/doom” labeling and their band name that this was going to be some early My Dying Bride worship of the highest caliber, complete with weepy violins and flowers withering. But you know what your parents said about why you should never assume…” Speculation and doomination.

Famyne – II: The Ground Below Review

Famyne – II: The Ground Below Review

By Steel Druhm on May 13, 2022 in Reviews, Doom Metal, 20 comments

“U.K.-based “modern” doom act Famyne evaded my metal detector with their eponymous 2018 debut. I might have missed their sophomore outing too, had I not been desperate for some doom when skulking through the fetid promo sump on a dark and dreary night. Thus, I approached II: The Ground Below without context or expectation, and what I heard befuddled me for a good while.” Uncommon grounds.

This Is Oblivion – This Is Oblivion Review

This Is Oblivion – This Is Oblivion Review

By Dear Hollow on May 12, 2022 in Reviews, Dark Neofolk, Doom Metal, Neofolk, 24 comments

“This Is Oblivion is a duo consisting of New York-based vocalist/violinist Lulu Black and her partner The Number Twelve Looks Like You / So Hideous drummer Michael Kadnar, taking influence from acts like Chelsea Wolfe, Swans, and Body Void in a Gothic blend of industrial noise and neofolk, accomplished through minimalist instrumentation. Relying on repetitive melody, doom percussion, and Black’s accomplished and varied vocal performance, This Is Oblivion is greater than the sum of its parts in its emphasis on evocation, ritualism, and summoning.” Enjoy of deep Oblivion.

Cavernlight – As I Cast Ruin Upon the Lens That Reveals My Every Flaw Review

Cavernlight – As I Cast Ruin Upon the Lens That Reveals My Every Flaw Review

By Thus Spoke on May 10, 2022 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Post-Metal, Sludge Metal, 45 comments

“As spring progresses, the ever-more-present sun brings light and warmth, for some even a promise of hope. Cavernlight throw scorn on the very idea. As I Cast Ruin Upon the Lens That Reveals My Every Flaw follows their habit of epically proportioned titles. It also continues the trend of dealing with existential suffering and despair. Where it differs is in the way it delivers its message. As We Cup Our Hands and Drink from the Stream of Our Ache was a relentless rhapsody of torment, railing and raging with metallic furor. As I Cast Ruin… feels like a step beyond this rawness, to a deep, depressive apathy and acceptance.” The end of light and hope.