Obsidian Sea – Pathos (Review)

Obsidian Sea - PathosObsidian Sea are a Bulgarian doom/heavy metal band and this is their fourth album.

I last caught up with Obsidian Sea on 2015’s Dreams, Illusions, Obsessions. Seven years, a lineup change, and another album in between later, and we now have Pathos, which caught my eye and encouraged me to get back in touch with what the band are doing. And what are they doing? Unleashing 40 minutes of fun material, that’s what. Continue reading “Obsidian Sea – Pathos (Review)”

Kurokuma – Born of Obsidian (Review)

Kurokuma - Born of ObsidianThis is the debut album from Kurokuma, a doom/sludge band from the UK.

Both times that I’ve encountered Kurokuma, (2016’s Advorsus and 2019’s Sheffield’s Best Metal Bands Vol. 1), I’ve liked what I’ve heard, and now it’s finally time for their long-awaited debut album to see the light of day. The band have been slowly gathering Continue reading “Kurokuma – Born of Obsidian (Review)”

Mur – Cut the Rivers Vein (Review)

Mur - Cut the Rivers VeinThis is the fourth album from one-man blackened doom act Mur.

Cut the Rivers Vein spends 51 minutes mixing together doom, post-metal, and black metal, with elements of folk, ambient, and drone, to great effect. Continue reading “Mur – Cut the Rivers Vein (Review)”

Druid Lord – Relics of the Dead (Review)

Druid Lord - Relics of the DeadDruid Lord are a death/doom metal band from the US and this is their third album.

Following on from 2018’s Grotesque Offerings, Relics of the Dead contains 41 minutes of new material. These new songs pick up where Grotesque Offerings left off. They’re heavy slabs of death/doom, dripping with macabre atmosphere and slow terror. Continue reading “Druid Lord – Relics of the Dead (Review)”

Mizmor (מזמור) – Wit’s End (Review)

Mizmor (מזמור) - Wit's EndThis is the latest EP from US solo blackened doom band Mizmor, or מזמור.

This new 29-minute EP contains just two big tracks. The release combines blackened doom with drone and ambient, resulting in tortured dark landscapes that are paradoxically not without beauty or light. Continue reading “Mizmor (מזמור) – Wit’s End (Review)”

Akelei – Een Van Ons (Review)

Akelei - Een Van OnsThis is the latest EP from Akelei, a doom metal band from The Netherlands.

Although billed as an EP, and despite the fact that there’s only three tracks here, this is actually a 37-minute release – longer than some albums. This is the the band’s first release in 11 years, and I really hope they don’t leave it as long as that until the next one comes out, as this is exceptional. Continue reading “Akelei – Een Van Ons (Review)”

Mütterlein – Bring Down the Flags (Review)

Mütterlein - Bring Down the FlagsThis is the second album from Mütterlein, a one-woman experimental band from France.

After being really struck by the quality of Mütterlein’s split with Limbes from earlier in the year, I was looking forward to getting to grips with what Bring Down the Flags had to offer. Continue reading “Mütterlein – Bring Down the Flags (Review)”