Category: Doom

Nailed to Obscurity – Black Frost (Review)

Nailed to Obscurity - Black FrostThis is the fourth album from Nailed to Obscurity, a melodic doom metal band from Germany.

Nailed to Obscurity play a modernised version of old-school death/doom. Black Frost contains 47 minutes of material that can be roughly characterised as a combination of old Katatonia mixed with elements of Paradise Lost, Insomnium, Opeth, Décembre Noir, and others. The band definitely let their own collective personalities shine through in the music, however. Continue reading “Nailed to Obscurity – Black Frost (Review)”

Yatra – Death Ritual (Review)

Yatra - Death RitualYatra are a doom band from the US and this is their debut album.

Now here we have an album that’s infused with darkness; it’s almost tangible, but in a warm, smoky way. Mixing ugly doom, riff-hungry stoner, blackened sludge, and harsh drone influences into 45 minutes of material, Death Ritual showcases the dark underbelly of doom metal. Continue reading “Yatra – Death Ritual (Review)”

Vanha – Melancholia (Review)

Vanha - MelancholiaThis is the second album from one man death/doom metal band Vanha.

Vanha’s debut album Within the Mist of Sorrow struck me hard, and has stayed with me ever since as a quality exemplar of how to provide a textured and highly atmospheric display of 90s death/doom influences. Delivered as a duo, Vanha is now one man, Melancholia is his latest effort. Continue reading “Vanha – Melancholia (Review)”

Lucifer’s Fall – Tales from the Crypt (Review)

Lucifer's Fall - Tales from the CryptLucifer’s Fall are an Australian doom metal band and this is their latest release. It’s an oddball collection of rarities – live tracks, rehearsals, covers, splits, demos, etc. – 62 minutes of raucous, rocking doom metal. Sorry, DOOM METAL!

I can’t help but really like Lucifer’s Fall. They’ve got songs, they’ve got attitude, and they’ve got balls. What’s not to like? Continue reading “Lucifer’s Fall – Tales from the Crypt (Review)”

Dirge – Lost Empyrean (Review)

Dirge - Lost EmpyreanThis is the seventh album from Dirge, an atmospheric sludge/post-metal band from France.

I loved 2014’s Hyperion, which was one of my favourite releases of that year. Last year the band released the experimental electronically-slanted Alma | Batica, which I also really enjoyed. It’s great to finally have a new full length from the band though, one which offers us their rich use of guitars once more. Continue reading “Dirge – Lost Empyrean (Review)”

Majestic Downfall – Waters of Fate (Review)

Majestic Downfall - Waters of FateThis is the fifth album from Majestic Downfall, a Mexican death/doom band.

Having enjoyed very much Majestic Downfall’s 2014 split with The Slow Death, a new album of 52-minute duration is well-received. Continue reading “Majestic Downfall – Waters of Fate (Review)”

Sadhus “The Smoking Community” – Big Fish (Review)

Sadhus The Smoking Community - Big FishThis is the second album from Sadhus “The Smoking Community”, a sludge metal band from Greece.

After enjoying their 2016 split with Agnes Vein, this is my first chance to get to grips with a Sadhus “The Smoking Community” full length album. Big Fish gives us 34 minutes of smoky heaviness and savage stoner doom sludge. Continue reading “Sadhus “The Smoking Community” – Big Fish (Review)”

1914 – The Blind Leading the Blind (Review)

1914 - The Blind Leading the Blind1914 are a Ukrainian blackened death/doom band and this is their second album.

I enjoy 1914’s work a lot, (check out Eschatology of War and their split with Minenwerfer, for example). With an appropriate concept for a band with this name, their latest creation is crushingly heavy and full of monolithic songs that devastate and destroy. Continue reading “1914 – The Blind Leading the Blind (Review)”