This is the debut album from Angmodnes, a funeral doom band from the Netherlands.
Rot of the Soul is a 55-minute journey into funeral doom misery and woe. The music of Angmodnes is engrossing and immersive, covering the listener in layers of rich darkness and compelling atmosphere.
Think of a mix of bands such as Convocation, Mournful Congregation, Slow, Eye of Solitude, Abyssic, Soliloquium, Paradise Lost, and My Dying Bride, and you’ll have a good starting point for approaching Rot of the Soul.
Yes, Rot of the Soul is a dark and atmospheric album, just as you would want from funeral doom. It drops with despondent emotion and bleak negativity. The music is powered by this, delivering glacial riffs and huge slabs of distortion that are then coloured by forlorn melody and mood-driven keyboards. There’s a Gothic metal feel to Rot of the Soul, but this is firmly subsumed into its funeral doom template. There’s the occasional outburst of violence, but the majority of the music is sombre and downbeat.
Vocally there are a variety of styles across these songs, divided amongst three vocalists. The primary style is deep growls, augmented by harsh screams; both fulfil their roles well across the album. Further enriching this formula is highly evocative clean singing. Frequently layered and always imbued with deep feeling, these are integral aspects of Rot of the Soul and elevate the material. Two of the vocalists provide these, and both performances are frequently beautiful and heartbreaking.
Angmodnes have impressed. Rot of the Soul is a strong funeral doom record, and worth spending time with if you’re a fan of a Gothic-tinged version of the style.
Highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 