Doom Metal

Convocation – No Dawn for the Caliginous Night Review

By Cherd on November 30, 2023 in Reviews, Death Doom, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Funeral Doom, 91 comments

“In the wretched realms of death metal, Finland’s Lauri Laaksonen is a known commodity. After a five-year stint in Sear, LL, as he’s credited on most liner notes, founded the beastly Desolate Shrine in 2010. We here at AMG have for the most part fawned in a most undignified manner over that project’s output. On the strength of that discography alone, LL could hold his head high among his most celebrated death metal contemporaries. But his impact on the genre doesn’t end there. Since 2018, LL has released some of the very finest slabs of demoralizing deathly doom in recent memory through his band Convocation.” Dark days in Finland.

Cursebinder – Drifting [Things You Might Have Missed 2023]

By Carcharodon on November 28, 2023 in Things You Might Have Missed 2023, Black Metal, Death Doom, Doom Metal, Post-Metal, Progressive Metal, 54 comments

“Perhaps some of you will recall that heady moment in 2021 when we reviewed the third record, The Grand Scheme of Things, by Kraków, Poland death metal outfit Dormant Ordeal, not once, but twice. In a week. For reasons. Still, it scored an indulgent 4.0 and a deserved 3.5, so at least it was worth it. Well, DO vocalist Maciej Proficz has another band, Cursebinder. And back in April, to little acclaim (at least that I saw), Cursebinder dropped its debut LP, Drifting.” Curses!

Strange New Dawn – New Nights of Euphoria Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on November 27, 2023 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, 21 comments

“Once upon a time, there were two brothers, one played bass and the other a guitar. In 2000, these brothers helped create Journey to the End of the Night, Green Carnation’s debut album. From here, they went off to form the mighty In the Woods…, hoping to expand on the sound of yesteryear Green Carnation. After leaving both bands, Green Carnation and In the Woods… remained, drastically morphing their sound and pushing beyond the boundaries of long-winded progressiveness, orchestration, and flowing choirs. Come 2013, the Botteri brothers attempted it again with Strange New Dawn.” Woods, flowers, dawns, oh my!

Midnight Odyssey – Biolume Part 3: A Fullmoon Madness Review

By Carcharodon on November 21, 2023 in Reviews, Ambient, Ambient Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Symphonic Metal, Synthwave, 83 comments

“The Biolume trilogy is massive, not only in runtime but also in the scope of its storytelling. The records move from darkened subterranean halls on In Tartarean Chains, through a blinding desert of celestial light on The Golden Orb to stare at the haunting night sky, dimly lit by that same light reflecting off a dead satellite on A Fullmoon Madness. Perhaps it was always inevitable that, as we moved up through these levels, each would be vaster in scope and scale than the last.” Size matters.

Bull Elephant – The Long War Review

By Kenstrosity on November 17, 2023 in Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, 23 comments

“Bull Elephant are a wild bunch, and their particular approach to metal reflects that wildness in full measure. A bonkers combination of death metal, doom metal, stoner metal, prog, heavy metal, and the occasional dalliance with thrash, Bull Elephant’s sound offers much in the way of variation and permutation.” Now with extra Nazis!

AGLO – Build Fear Review

By Cherd on November 15, 2023 in Reviews, Death Doom, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Sludge, 58 comments

“Aaron Osborne is the mastermind behind AGLO, a Star Trek-themed fusion of death doom and sludge more unnerving than that abomination Tuvix. Will his debut full-length Build Fear be ecstatic fan service like the third season of Star Trek: Picard? Or will it be disappointing and confusing like the first two seasons of Star Trek: Picard?” Spock rocking.

Morne – Engraved with Pain Review

By Cherd on November 9, 2023 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Post-Metal, Sludge Metal, 21 comments

“Those familiar with the band’s previous work will find it mostly unchanged here. Morne sit at the intersection of post-metal and doom with the residue of crust and sludge corroding any exposed surfaces. Structurally, they like to write a big, driving riff with methodical drums pounding away and then just camp on that for a while. Then they build a house there and put down roots.” Morne hasn’t broken.

BRIQUEVILLE – IIII Review

By Carcharodon on November 3, 2023 in Reviews, Avante Garde, Doom Metal, Drone, Electronica, Instrumental Metal, Post-Metal, 49 comments

“When I reviewed B R I Q U E V I L L E’s third record, Quelle, I got tetchy about all the spaces between the letters, and various other pretensions. However, the Belgian project’s mesmerizing brand of instrumental post-metal won me over. Its bleak, misery-drenched tones conveyed everything that slightly uncomfortable-to-look-at album artwork suggested it might, ranging from a sludgy Bossk to Godspeed You! Black Emperor in tone. At almost an hour in length, and with a few strange choices in its composition, Quelle did struggle a little under its own weight but it still held my attention. Although the spaces now seem to come and go, it would appear BRIQUEVILLE have found a new way to irk me with their fourth record, IIII.” B r i c k by BRIQUE.

Warcrab – The Howling Silence Review

By Cherd on November 1, 2023 in Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Sludge, 52 comments

“Surprise! I know many of you have been patiently waiting for Holdeneye‘s review of the fourth full-length from UK death sludge slingers Warcrab, given how he so shamelessly ran his tongue all over their exoskeleton’s undercarriage when he reviewed their last outing, Damned In Endless Night. Well this time you get me. Don’t worry, Holdy‘s fine. He’s certainly not bound and ball-gagged in my garden shed dressed like Adventure Time’s Finn the Human, slipping in and out of consciousness in a chloroform haze. He was simply busy this week and remembered how much I also enjoyed Warcrab’s last album, so he turned over reviewing duties to yours truly.” Pick the Crab!

Green Lung – This Heathen Land Review

By Carcharodon on October 30, 2023 in Reviews, Alternative, Doom Metal, Folk, Occult Rock, Retro Metal, 43 comments

“There is something familiar and charming about what Green Lung do and do so well. Blending the likes of Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Boston and more, the band harks back to an earlier time and, on Black Harvest, managed to do that with their own voice. However, there are lots of other things I can reach to for comfort and familiarity, perhaps explaining why I haven’t reached for Black Harvest until thinking about this review. What staying power does This Heathen Land have?” Of Lungs and lands.