This is a collaboration between post-rock/folk solo artist Emma Ruth Rundle and doom/sludge metallers Thou, both from the US.
This is the second collaboration between these two artists, although sadly I managed to miss out on the full album that the two released together last year. On the strength of The Helm of Sorrow, this is a real shame, as something special appears to have been created here. Continue reading
This is the third album from Irish doom metal band Dread Sovereign.
I really like Dread Sovereign’s work, (see 2014’s All Hell’s Martyrs and 2017 For Doom the Bell Tolls), so listening to Alchemical Warfare was a must. Across 52 minutes the band kick out some of their best jams, so trust me when I say that if you’re at all into this style then you should make Alchemical Warfare a priority. Continue reading
This is the second album from Romanian progressive/post-metallers Kultika.
I’ve been eagerly awaiting this ever since 2017’s Pursuance. I’ve had to wait longer than I expected for Capricorn Wolves, but it’s been worth the wait. Continue reading
This is the third album from Irish doom band Nomadic Rituals.
This is the follow up to 2017’s excellent Marking the Day, which also made it onto my end of year list for that year. It’s great to hear the massive sludge-infused doom of Nomadic Rituals once more, and this new album is a strong contender for the best in their discography. Continue reading
This is the debut album from Nicarus, a solo Israeli artist.
I confess that it was the album art that drew me to this release, as I’m not normally a huge fan of the less-heavy genres such as anything with rock in the descriptor. I’m glad that I did check it out though, as Coal People, Coal Puppets is an Continue reading
This is the debut EP from US death/doom metal band Mother of Graves.
In Somber Dreams contains 19 minutes of old-school melodic death/doom. The promo blurb mentions bands such as Katatonia, Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Cloak, and Khemmis, and these serve as suitable reference points, especially the first two. Continue reading
Gjoad are an Austrian post-rock band and this is their debut album.
This is nature-inspired music that’s highly evocative and atmospheric. Shades of post-rock, ambient, doom, and folk inform the bulk of the material here. There’s a clear black metal influence too, although this is mostly apparent Continue reading
This is the debut album from Belgian post-metal/sludge band Pothamus.
Pothamus play an atmospheric amalgamation of post-metal, post-rock, drone, shoegaze, and sludge influences, which has resulted in 50 minutes of rich, luscious music. Continue reading
This is the debut album from Bethmoora, a doom/sludge band from Denmark.
It’s good to hear such a malignant slab of filthy doom-fuelled hateful sludge like this now and again. It strips away pretentions and allows you to get a good long hard look at the muck and grime. Continue reading
Farer are a doom band from the Netherlands and this is their debut album.
Monad is a harrowing and uncomfortable 53 minutes that’s made up of components from doom, noise, drone, sludge, and post-metal. The bass is used prominently and well, as you’d expect from a band with two bass Continue reading
