Khemmis

Cult of Sorrow – Invocation of the Lucifer Review

By Grymm on September 19, 2019 in 2019, American Rock, Black Doomba Records, Doom Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, 13 comments

“After almost six years of reviewing here, I’ve noticed American bands latching on to certain trends. Just a decade ago, everyone and their cousin was aping the Gothenburg sound, mixing it with d-beats and hardcore (and some whiny) vocals, and calling it a day. Nowadays, doom is the nectar du jour, and many a band is gulping it. Here in America, you have two prevalent strains: the airy, dreamy, almost progressive take that bands like YOB, Khemmis, and especially Pallbearer have crafted, and then there’s the so-70s-your-sideburns-are-showing Blue Oyster Cult Scoobie-Doobie-Doom “Occult” doom that’s been sweeping the nation. So which side does Invocation of the Lucifer, the second album by Cincinnati upstarts Cult of Sorrow, land?” Culting the herd.

Horseburner – The Thief Review

By Doom_et_Al on August 5, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Ripple Music, Sludge Metal, Doom Metal, Progressive Metal, Sludge Metal, 34 comments

“For music that should appeal to stoners, the thought of burning horses sounds like a very bad trip indeed, but that isn’t the case here and the incongruent imagery is the first of many surprises offered up by these West Virginians. Despite The Thief only being their second album, after 2016’s Dead Seeds, Barren Soil, these guys are no n00bs.” Horse play and cat fancying.

Dreadnought – Emergence Review

By El Cuervo on May 21, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Post-metal, Profound Lore Records, Reviews, Doom Metal, Post-Metal, 53 comments

“Much has been made of the impressive alignment of metal bands from Denver, and Colorado more generally, in recent years, including Khemmis, Spectral Voice and Blood Incantation, among myriad others. But Dreadnought have always stood apart from other bands not just within that scene but within metal overall given their singular blend of diverse influences, creating something vaguely resembling doom metal but which has always had wide eyes for detail and grandiosity.” Embiggened soundscapes.

Smoulder – Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring Review

By Eldritch Elitist on April 30, 2019 in 2019, Canadian Metal, Cruz Del Sur, Doom Metal, Reviews, Doom Metal, 55 comments

“I’ve made it no secret that I don’t love doom metal so much as respect it from a sizable distance, but certain acts have been known to prompt genuine affection. My criteria for good doom is admittedly opaque, with my two favorite albums of this decade residing in opposite ends of the genre’s sonic spectrum, but I think it boils down to a general feeling of genuineness. If you’re going to fuck around with pretentious atmospherics against a backdrop of flaccid, groove-less riffs, you’ll get no respect from me. It’s really all about the heart, with ingenuity being secondary to pure fun and overflowing emotion. And that’s where Toronto, Ontario’s Smoulder, and the excellently titled Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring, come in.” Smoke signals.

Dr. Wvrm’s Top Ten(ish) Records of 2018

By Dr. Wvrm on December 26, 2018 in 2018, Blog Posts, Lists, 128 comments

Christmas is over, but the lists are still lurking! Next up is Dr. Wvrm and his highly important opinions on what ten albums you should hear in 2018.

Mark Z.’s and L. Saunders’ Top Ten of 2018

By Mark Z. on December 22, 2018 in 2018, Blog Posts, Lists, 126 comments

More lists for the list machine! The men who unwisely go by their real names, Mark Z. and L. Saunders boldly proclaim their best albums of 2018.

Solstice – White Horse Hill [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Huck N Roll on November 30, 2018 in 2018, British Metal, Dark Descent Records, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, 51 comments

“I love to hear music from bands that faded away decades ago, only to come back with renewed fury. Satan, anyone? Sorcerer? The list goes on, and now we can add Solstice to it. Stylistically similar to Sorcerer and Khemmis, these venerable Brits put out a couple of albums in the 1990s before disappearing from the scene, only to reappear in 2013 with a comeback EP, Death’s Crown Is Victory. Immaculately recorded and arranged, the four songs presented were top-notch epic doom. And now, five years after that—and a full twenty after their last full-length—Solstice present us with White Horse Hill, and it is glorious.” Won’t you ride their White Horse?

Supreme Havoc – One and All Review

By Lord Doom on November 11, 2018 in 2018, Doom Metal, Finnish Metal, Punk, Reviews, Self-released, Sludge Metal, Doom Metal, Punk, Sludge Metal, 33 comments

“I am horrible at cooking. I love a simple recipe involving as few ingredients as possible and minimal effort from the “chef.” Finnish sludge/doom/d-beat rockers Supreme Havoc seem to subscribe to this philosophy as they are composed of only the essential: drums, bass, guitar, and vocals. The quartet has been together since 2014 and has released two EPs, one in 2015 and another in 2016. One and All marks their first full-length album together and after a quick scan of their promo material, I had one question: Is this just a heavier Mastodon with some doom thrown in or have these four Finns made something special out of this idiosyncratic collection of genre tags?” Genre hoggery.

Black Lotus – Sons of Saturn Review

By Huck N Roll on October 19, 2018 in 2018, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, Inverse Records, Reviews, Spanish Metal, Doom Metal, Epic Metal, Heavy Metal, 44 comments

“Back in 2017, the epic doom of Sorcerer’s excellent The Crowning of the Fire King marched its way onto a couple of Top 10(ish) lists, coming in at #5 for The Huckster and #1 for our great ape, Steel Druhm. Nothing has really come close to emulating that feel so far this year — perhaps the closest we’ve come is the satisfyingly thick platter of Týr-ish goodness that was Khemmis’ Desolation. But that album didn’t hit home like Sorcerer did, nor has it had the staying power. Enter Spanish newcomers Black Lotus, and their debut album, Sons of Saturn, which promises to be chock full of epicness.” Black Wizzard?

Deadbird – III: The Forest Within The Tree Review

By Akerblogger on October 17, 2018 in 20 Buck Spin, 2018, American Metal, Doom Metal, Reviews, Sludge Metal, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, 54 comments

“We all thought the bird was dead, but like a phoenix the bird has risen. Ten years after their second full-length Twilight Ritual, Arkansas based Deadbird – featuring Rwake vocalist Christopher Terry and drummer Jeff Morgan – are alive and kicking and ready to spread their wings and flap doom into your face.” There’s a Deadbird in the sky! Everybody wonders why.