Funeral Doom

Mournful Congregation – The Exuviae of Gods – Part I Review

By Grymm on May 25, 2022 in Reviews, Funeral Doom, 37 comments

“Every now and then, while minding my little ol’ business as I knock shit off my dresser like a good cat, the random thought of “Hey, whatever happened to such-and-such band” will pop into my furry cranium and, like clockwork, that band will release something new almost immediately afterward. In this case, said band is Australian funeral powerhouse Mournful Congregation, a band that doesn’t always drop new things at a constant rate, but when they do drop those new things, they’re always heavy, reflective, and… well, mournful.” Short mourning.

Shape of Despair – Return to the Void Review

By Steel Druhm on February 25, 2022 in Reviews, Death Metal, Funeral Doom, 30 comments

Shape of Despair is such a big name in the funeral doom scene that we had to give their latest depressive platter a double review. Come for the reviews of Return to the Void, but stay for the despair.

Clouds – Despărțire Review

By Thus Spoke on December 8, 2021 in Reviews, Death Doom, Funeral Doom, 65 comments

“You could hardly find a more autumnally appropriate band than Clouds. Their name not only describes the most prevalent meteorological phenomenon of the season, their past catalog, and a band roster filled with members from legendary Funeral, Saturnus, and Shape of Despair has established them as a master of atmospheric doom.” Sure, it’s winter. And yes, this record dropped in October. Did you miss it?

LLNN – Unmaker [Things You Might Have Missed 2021]

By Carcharodon on December 2, 2021 in Things You Might Have Missed 2021, Funeral Doom, Post-Hardcore, Post-Metal, 60 comments

“Denmark’s LLNN—a name which I initially assumed must be an acronym—were unknown to me until I happened upon a rec in the comments on September’s ROTM. Now, I like to think of myself as a connoisseur of all things post-, so when someone touts anything with that tag, I am going to investigate, particularly if they describe it as ‘absolutely devastating.’ And holy fuck, they weren’t kidding.” Unmaker’s mark.

Ember Sun – On Earth and Heaven Review

By Grymm on October 27, 2021 in Reviews, Funeral Doom, 26 comments

“Here at Angry Metal Guy and His Amazing Super-Friends, we’ve all seen our fair share of one-person black metal. Seemingly every January, they all come out of their cocoons, sprout wings, and greet us all en-masse like the loveliest and most rewarding of locust swarms. But one-person funeral doom? Now that’s a treasured rarity, and not something that makes its presence known or felt all that often, if ever. And yet Lorthar, former guitarist for Greek black metallers Order of the Ebon Hand, felt that his prior band didn’t quite satisfy his needs, so he ventured off on his own to form Ember Sun, handling all duties and offering us On Earth and Heaven. Enter sad man.

WORM – Foreverglade Review

By Cherd on October 20, 2021 in Reviews, Death Doom, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Funeral Doom, 105 comments

“Over a year and a half ago, Floridian band WORM released Gloomlord, a funeral/death doom album that marked a left turn for the former black metal outfit. I found it below average. Remarkably, my proclamation of its deficiencies wasn’t enough to keep others from enjoying it. The absolute fucking nerve. An inordinate number of other metal polymaths in the blogosphere sang its dolorous praises to the point that I wondered if maybe I had been mistaken, as rare an occurrence as that may be. When follow-up Foreverglade was announced, I decided to revisit Gloomlord, and I found it…about the same. Two good tracks and three duds. As I hit play on Foreverglade, I mentally prepared to be the bearer of bad reviews a second time.” The WORM has turned.

The Slow Death – Siege Review

By Kenstrosity on August 25, 2021 in Reviews, Death Doom, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Funeral Doom, 18 comments

“Transcending Obscurity always makes a concerted effort to deliver quality releases throughout each year of operation. I’d think most labels, especially ones focused on metal music, share the same ethic. However, what sets Transcending Obscurity apart for me is the sheer variety of extreme metal artists they recruit. Sure, there’s plenty of brutality on board, not to mention about seven thousand active Rogga projects. But then you get things like The Slow Death, a funeral death doom outfit from Australia who stand poised to deliver their fourth LP, Siege.” Siege perilous.

Hellish Form – Remains Review

By Cherd on July 1, 2021 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Drone, Funeral Doom, Noise, Sludge, 21 comments

“I’m not entirely sure why, but it seems black metal musicians enjoy carte blanche when it comes to incorporating other genres into their music. Everything from Appalachian folk to shoegaze to African American work songs to opera has been shoehorned into the supposedly kvltest of all metal. Not to mention any other metal genre can just add a little “blackened” seasoning in the mix for tasty results. It’s like the sparkling wine of metal: pairs well with anything. American bi-coastal band Hellish Form has looked at those corpse painted musical polyamorists and asked a question so bold, so elegant it brings a tear to my doom-loving eye: If black metal can do it, why not funeral doom? WHY NOT FUNERAL DOOM? That’s right, Hellish Form take the niche-est of metal styles and cries “Moar niche-er!”” Beseech the Remains.

Majestic Downfall – Aorta Review

By Saunders on May 28, 2021 in Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Funeral Doom, 3 comments

“Unheralded veterans of the underground, Mexican misery dealers Majestic Downfall popped up on my radar when I reviewed their enjoyable fourth LP, …When Dead back in 2015. Somewhere along the line I overlooked their 2018 release Waters of Fate, so can’t attest to its quality. However, based on my sole previous experience with the band I eagerly jumped on the chance to reacquaint myself with their latest opus of crushing death-doom, entitled Aorta. Now don’t be fooled by the mere four tracks offered, as Majestic Downfall specialize in long form compositions, unleashing an ambitiously lengthy slab of Peaceville inspired gloom, tipping the scales at a whopping 68 minutes.” The heart of despair.

Abysskvlt – Phur G. Yang Review

By Doom_et_Al on May 14, 2021 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Funeral Doom, 13 comments

“More than any other sub-genre of metal, funeral doom lends itself to introspection. Focused, as it is, on weighty and ponderous themes of death and suffering, it’s just not suited to breezy listens between dips in the sea while sipping a drink with an umbrella in it (or to AMG deadlines, for that matter). In fact, funeral doom is one of the few sub-genres that I can only really listen to at a specific time of day, when I’m in an appropriate frame of mind. What folk who don’t listen to this brand of music are missing out on, of course, is the payoff. Nothing hits quite like funeral doom. But sometimes, you have to work to get there. In the case of Russia’s Abysskvlt, you have to work extra hard because they’re serious about drawing their craft out.” Gang’s out, Yang’s out.