Doom Metal

Dool – Here Now, There Then Review

By El Cuervo on February 9, 2017 in 2017, Doom Metal, Dutch Metal, Hard Rock, Prophecy Productions, Reviews, Doom Metal, Hard Rock, 33 comments

“I’ve begun this year somewhat jaded. I’m not feeling the negativity in the same way as at 2016’s end but I’m disgruntled at many things. January failed to impress me musically and I selected a couple of promos for bands with which I’m unfamiliar, in the hope that I’d experience the joy of the unknown excellence. Dool’s debut album, Here Now, There Then, promised to at least be something with note-worthy subject matter: the enigmatic blurb on their website describes an exploration of the seediness of their hometown of Rotterdam through the medium of ‘dark rock.’ But my reactions to music in recent times requires quality to pique my interest.” One man’s struggle with mediocrity.

Hymn – Perish Review

By Eldritch Elitist on February 6, 2017 in 2017, Doom Metal, Reviews, Svart Records, Doom Metal, 27 comments

“As a music critic I am strictly prohibited from judging albums by their covers, yet it’s a behind-the-scenes hobby of mine to analyze album art as a thematic companion to the sounds that lie within. A successful album cover shouldn’t just serve as a pretty face; from art style to color palette, it should be a reflection of the band’s ideas and personality, something that sticks in one’s subconscious as a valuable piece of the overall experience. Norwegian doom duo Hymn opt for an exterior aesthetic that’s more in line with black metal than doom on their debut record Perish, exhibiting a stark, monochromatic mountain ridge.” Feel the mountain.

Ashenspire – Speak Not of the Laudanum Quandary Review

By Madam X on January 30, 2017 in 2017, Avante Garde, Black Metal, Code666 Records, Doom Metal, Reviews, Scottish Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 31 comments

“Ashenspire hail from Glasgow (Scotland) and like their British / Norwegian counterparts (A Forest of Stars / Vulture Industries), Ashenspire deliver a brand of avant-garde black metal that has you sit up and take notice. Clad in a single-breasted frock coat, Speak Not of the Laudanum Quandary tells of the harrowing odyssey of British imperialist tragedy using 7 lengthy tracks.” Big topic, big music.

Nailed to Obscurity – King Delusion Review

By Steel Druhm on January 27, 2017 in 2017, Apostasy Records, Death Metal, Doom Metal, German Metal, Progressive Death, Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 59 comments

“One of the best parts of the job of a music reviewer is stumbling across new, relatively unknown bands that deserve attention for what they’re doing. In what I hope is a good omen for the year, I’ve already encountered my first left-field surprise with Germany’s Nailed to Obscurity. As their name ironically suggests, these chaps have been toiling away without much attention, but King Delusion may be about to change that for the better. Nailed play an interesting fusion of death/doom and post-metal, and as the album unfolded, the list of bands their style borrows from grew long and prestigious indeed.” Nailed it!

Wolvennest – Wolvennest Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on January 20, 2017 in 2017, Austrian Metal, Belgian Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Rock, Van Records, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Rock, 18 comments

“Back in December of 2015, Der Blutharsch and the Infinite Church of the Leading Hand released a three-track offering called The Wolvennest Sessions. A year later, a reconstruction occurred and two of those three tracks were Botoxed and sent scurrying away to a new home. At this new home, these two ditties partnered with three new friends to produce a five-track debut of ambient music clocking in at fifty-five minutes. Within this handful of tracks lies a hint of black, a little doom, and a touch of rock that sends the listener tumbling headlong down Wolvennest’s drug-induced rabbit hole.” Holes, nests – this has it all.

Emptiness – Not for Music Review

By Grymm on January 16, 2017 in 2017, Ambient Metal, Belgian Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Ambient Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 23 comments

“If there was a saying that Papa Grymm would instill on us kids (besides to clean our rooms), it would be to make ourselves as uncomfortable as humanly possible. I don’t mean wearing sweater vests in the summer, folks, but rather stepping outside those little boxes we build for ourselves. Discomfort begets growth, after all. And what can be more uncomfortable than atonal, ambient black metal?” More edgy than a wedgie.

Ignis Gehenna – Baleful Scarlet Star Review

By Madam X on January 14, 2017 in 2017, Australian Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Melodic Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Reviews, Séance Records, Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Melodic Metal, 24 comments

“Here’s something to think about… If Darkthrone’s Transilvanian Hunger released today, would it make the same impression it made back in 1994? More importantly, would it get the same reception nowadays that it got in the past?” No chance.

Lord Vigo – Blackborne Souls Review

By Treble Yell on January 12, 2017 in 2017, Doom Metal, German Metal, No Remorse Records, Reviews, Doom Metal, 26 comments

“I like doom, it’s a genre replete with crushing riffs, evocative themes (doom spelled backward is “mood,” after all) and one of the best examples to turn to when you need something spine-crushingly heavy. What it doesn’t do is respect your time.” Time waits for no band.

Condenados – The Tree of Death Review

By Steel Druhm on January 6, 2017 in 2017, Chilean Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Shadow Kingdom Records, Doom Metal, 33 comments

“Those who know me will tell you that Steel Druhm is a man of refined tastes. As such, I don’t always listen to cult underground doom, but when I do, I like it the same way I like my chili – extra meaty and full of crippling regret. Obscure Chilean doom purveyors, Condenados have their own homestyle recipe they’d love to share and on their second album, The Tree of Death they’re looking to serve it to a wider audience.” Ent no thing.

Dunsmuir – Dunsmuir [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

By Saunders on January 6, 2017 in 2016, American Metal, Doom Metal, Hall of Records, Rock, Things You Might Have Missed 2016, Doom Metal, 11 comments

“Considering their impressive all star line-up, the debut self-titled LP from Dunsmuir seemed to fly under the radar rather curiously. The freshly minted rock project featuring Dave Bone (The Company Band), Brad Davis (Fu Manchu), Vinnie Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio) and none other than legendary Clutch frontman Neil Fallon released a consistently solid debut album worthy of your attention.” How the hell did we miss this?