Paradise Lost

Godthrymm – Distortions Review

By Grymm on August 15, 2023 in Reviews, Doom Metal, 66 comments

“Back in 2020, before things would go pear-shaped in literally everyone’s lives, I reviewed Reflections, the debut album from Godthrym, the new band featuring former My Dying Bridesmen Hamish Glencross (guitars/vocals) and Shaun Taylor-Steels (drums). I was enamored by how heavy, dirge-y, and Paradise Lost-y the entire album was. However, once the pandemic went into full swing, Reflections only gained in momentum and solace as everything around us quickly turned to shit on a planetary scale, bringing with it a sense of comfort and catharsis and landing itself on my Top Ten of a year we all would love to forget (but can’t). Now, in a happier(?) time and with a fuller line-up, Godthrymm are back with their highly-anticipated follow-up, Distortions.” Doom for End Times.

Tumulation – Haunted Funeral Creations Review

By Carcharodon on August 7, 2023 in Reviews, Death Doom, Doom Metal, 18 comments

“Tumulation’s offering is quite simple: they play down-tuned, sludgy death doom. There’s nothing overly complex or flashy about it. On the contrary, it’s filthy. Like, really nasty, murky filth.” Filth for the masses.

Coffin Mulch – Spectral Intercession Review

By Felagund on July 6, 2023 in Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 45 comments

“How can you go wrong with a band named Coffin Mulch? While I’ve used these introductory paragraphs time and time again to restate my love for OSDM, it doesn’t hurt that this band’s morbid moniker really tickles my fancy. While “Coffin” isn’t a particularly inventive inclusion, “mulch” adds an entirely new, evocative flavor to this putrescent pile. Is the mulch intended, perhaps, to entice the seeping coffin below to sprout zombified greenery? Or, better yet, is the mulch itself made from that nitrogen-rich churn composed of damp soil and viscous coffin offal? The band themselves don’t offer an explanation, and that’s just fine.” Savage gardening.

Death of Giants – Ventesorg Review

By Thus Spoke on May 15, 2023 in Reviews, 29 comments

“Grief is both intensely personal, and a commonality between us all. This admixture of the private and the relatable can make music through which it is channeled incredibly powerful. In a genre like doom, already associated with the melancholy and the morose, these emotions fit naturally and reinforce both the sense of sadness and the potency of the music itself. The recent output of Swallow the Sun initially springs to mind. Death of Giants is another such act.” Giant feelz.

Hanging Garden – The Garden Review

By Steel Druhm on March 24, 2023 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Gothic Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 29 comments

“Hanging Garden is that “other” Finnish melodic doom-death act that often gets overshadowed by the likes of Amorphis, Insomnium, and Omnium Gatherum. They’ve been around since 2004 and cranking out gothy melo-doom since 2007, and though they’ve been somewhat inconsistent over their career, the last few albums have been quite good with great moments scattered about. I was especially impressed by 2021s Skeleton Lake, which delivered exactly the kind of weepy, sadboi doom death I appreciate.” Hanging in the garden of sadz.

Elderseer – Drown in the Shallowness Review

By Steel Druhm on February 3, 2023 in Reviews, Doom Metal, 50 comments

“There seems to be a wellspring of gothic doom in the promo hopper in early 2023, and I’m okay with that. Coming off a heated love affair with Tribunal, I eagerly scooped up the debut by U.K. doomsters, Elderseer and hoped for a similar love connection. Their full-length debut adopts a style in the vein of My Dying Bride, Celestial Season, and early Paradise Lost, with long, winding songs telling tales of great misery and woe. And at a mammoth 68-minute runtime, Drown in the Shallowness delivers more than your fair share of sadcakes and grief biscuits.” Seer me MMXXIII.

Grymm’s Top Ten(ish) of 2022

By Grymm on December 30, 2022 in Blog Posts, Lists, 135 comments

Grymm has tidings of musical wisdom in his Top Ten(ish) of 2022. Partake of it.

Mother of Graves – Where the Shadows Adorn Review

By Grymm on October 11, 2022 in Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, 12 comments

“As autumn attempts to blow its crisp, leaf-scented breeze through the still-humid, still-swamp-assy climes of Northeastern Florida, I can’t help but reach for my own aural equivalent of a pumpkin spice latte, a sound so comfortable that it’s akin to slipping on a well-worn hoodie that’s seen better days. Kiddos, it’s time to revisit the sounds of early 90s doom/death. I’m talking about reminiscing of days both Brave and Murderous, of paradise being lost, and of flowers withering.” Old dooms.

Strigoi – Viscera Review

By Grymm on September 28, 2022 in Reviews, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Grind, 40 comments

“As much of a doom metal cat as I am, I’ll woefully admit when I miss the boat on a band.Vallenfyre, the death/doom side-project that Paradise Lost axeman Gregor Mackintosh created to process the loss of his father, released three albums of 90s throwback Asphyxiation before Mackintosh put the band to rest in 2018, stating that he felt the band had run its course thematically. However, he still wanted to continue in that murky, grotesque vein, so with the help of live ‘Fyre bassist Chris Casket, Mackintosh unearthed Strigoi, a grindier, filthier proposition.” Death as paradise.

Bloodbath – Survival of the Sickest Review

By Ferrous Beuller on September 8, 2022 in Reviews, Death Metal, 75 comments

“Let’s talk about blood, baby. Hemoglobin and me. Let’s talk about all the blood things and the bad things that may bleed. Death metal and that hideous ichor that courses through us all are as synonymous as editors and intimidation… Swedish supergroup extraordinaire Bloodbath have made a career out of celebrating the genre’s twisted tenets and once pulsed at the very center of the classic scene.” Your bath is ready.