Monolord – Your Time to Shine (Review)

Monolord - Your Time to ShineMonolord are a doom metal band from Sweden and this is their fifth album.

After 2019’s enjoyable No Comfort, the band are back with Your Time to Shine, which contains 39 minutes of new material. Monolord know very well how to make this sort of music at this point. These five songs are satisfying and enjoyable. Combining heaviness with nuance, the songs batter your door down, before entertaining with a wealth of musical anecdotes. Continue reading “Monolord – Your Time to Shine (Review)”

Ophis – Spew Forth Odium (Review)

Ophis - Spew Forth OdiumOphis are a German death/doom band and this is their fifth album.

I do like Ophis’ work. 2014’s Abhorrence in Opulence and The Dismal Circle were both crushing records, and Spew Forth Odium is no different in this regard. Featuring members of Fvneral Fvkk and Todtgelichter, Ophis know their chosen art form well, and Spew Forth Odium contains 64 minutes of foul underground heaviness and gloom. Continue reading “Ophis – Spew Forth Odium (Review)”

Apostle of Solitude – Until the Darkness Goes (Review)

Apostle of Solitude - Until the Darkness GoesThis is the fifth album from US doom metallers Apostle of Solitude.

Both 2014’s Of Woe and Wounds and 2018’s From Gold to Ash were very enjoyable records, so I knew I wanted in on Until the Darkness Goes‘ action. With a duration of 37 minutes it’s Apostle of Solitude’s shortest album yet, but what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality. Continue reading “Apostle of Solitude – Until the Darkness Goes (Review)”

Worm – Foreverglade (Review)

Worm - ForevergladeThis is the third album from Worm, a blackened death/doom band from the US.

Foreverglade is the fetid swamp where black metal, funeral doom, and death metal meet and all drown slowly. It hard not to get caught up in the band’s rotting stench. I mean, a blackened form of death/doom? One which knows how to craft atmosphere as well as crush with brutal harsh nastiness, all tied together with very effective songwriting? Sign me up. Right now. Continue reading “Worm – Foreverglade (Review)”

Indigo Raven – Looking for Transcendence (Review)

Indigo Raven - Looking for TranscendenceThis is the debut album from French doom metal band Indigo Raven.

Featuring a member of Mourir, Indigo Raven deliver 43 minutes of doom on Looking for Transcendence, (including bonus track, a Mazzy Star cover). The promo blurb states that the “trio’s sound emerges from the Peaceville Three’s influence with a modern sludge approach”, and this is a suitable description of what you’ll find on this album. To this I’d also add a certain 80s pop sensibility that makes for songs that stick in the head. Continue reading “Indigo Raven – Looking for Transcendence (Review)”

Mercury Circle – Killing Moons (Review)

Mercury Circle - Killing MoonsThis is the debut album from Finnish dark doom rockers Mercury Circle.

Featuring current and ex-members of Swallow the Sun and Children of Bodom, Killing Moons contains 63 minutes of infectiously dark music. The overall style is one of doom-infused, moody, synth-enriched dark rock. Continue reading “Mercury Circle – Killing Moons (Review)”

Abstracter – Abominion (Review)

Abstracter - AbominionThis is the fourth album from US doom band Abstracter.

As follow up to 2108’s mighty slab of malefic horror that was Cinerous Incarnate, (and Wound Empire and Tomb of Feathers before it), Abominion is Abstracter’s latest assault on the light. Continue reading “Abstracter – Abominion (Review)”