Doubtsower is a one-man Welsh doom metal band and this is his debut album.
The songs on Asphyxiation of a Seasick Soul are a collection of impactful doom songs that wield deft emotion alongside crushing riffs. The music is crafted from a form of doom metal that also uses elements from post-metal and post-rock, making for a textured, richly nuanced listening experience. For an initial comparison, think of a mix of Usnea and Isis, with a bit of Yob thrown in, and you’ll get the general idea.
The use of melody here is affecting and well-considered. The same can be said of the atmospheric keyboards too. Both aspects of Doubtsower work to enhance the music’s core delivery, elevating the songs higher than they would otherwise achieve. Of course, that’s a bit misleading, as the use of melodic and atmospheric elements on the album are probably more central to the music than the distorted guitars in many ways, and the melodies and keyboards go a long way towards helping to realise this. Ultimately Asphyxiation of a Seasick Soul is a vehicle for emotion and mood, and simply manifests itself as a doom metal release.
The songs are very well-written, and show an advanced understanding of structure, dynamics, and how to deal with music that is highly evocative. This latter part of Doubtsower’s music is very well-developed. The music drips emotion, and is highly expressive, sometimes with only minimal ingredients. For example, while some bands of this ilk use lighter moments purely to make the heavy parts sound heavier, here the lighter moments have value in and of themselves, and are so imbued with feeling that you never want them to go away. The artist must realise this too, which is why they’re frequently entwined with the heavier elements, making for a rich sonic tapestry that is a winning combination.
Asphyxiation of a Seasick Soul is the sort of album that is easy to overlook in today’s music-saturated world. Make sure you don’t though, as it’s an absolute gem of an album. If you’re a fan of emotive, atmospheric doom metal, then this is one you’ll need to check out.
Very highly recommended.
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