Atmospheric Doom – Wonderbox Metal

Lights of Vimana – Neopolis (Review)

This is the debut album from international doom metal band Lights of Vimana.

That Déhà chap certainly gets around. Apart from his own prolific output, he recently supplied vocals to the new album from the mighty Aphonic Threnody. I mention this here because he’s back once more, providing vocals to another doom band – Lights of Vimana. This time he is working in concert with two others, (current/ex-members of Dalla Nebbia, Mesmur, Void of Silence, and Pantheïst), to bring us 48 minutes of atmospheric/progressive doom, in the shape of Neopolis. Continue reading “Lights of Vimana – Neopolis (Review)”

Slow – Abîmes I (Review)

Slow are a funeral doom band from Belgium and this is their seventh album.

Both 2017’s V – Oceans and 2019’s VI – Dantalion were colossal records of immersive atmospheric doom immensity. The latter made it onto my end of year list for 2019 too. With that in mind, and with expectations running high, we turn to the 44 minutes that Abîmes I has in store for us. Continue reading “Slow – Abîmes I (Review)”

Vanishing Kids – Miracle of Death (Review)

This is the sixth album from US doom band Vanishing Kids.

Miracle of Death offers up 42 minutes of luscious Gothic doom, sprinkled with psychedelia, shoegaze, and oceans of atmosphere. It’s an absorbing listen, one that showcases the style and personality of Vanishing Kids in the best of lights. Continue reading “Vanishing Kids – Miracle of Death (Review)”

Morag Tong – Grieve (Review)

Morag Tong are a UK doom band, and this is their second album.

This 42-minute release is the follow up to 2018’s Last Knell of Om. Containing four tracks, including one that takes up almost half of the running time, Morag Tong have been busy in the years since their first album, and boy does it show. Continue reading “Morag Tong – Grieve (Review)”

Decompression – Love Is the Beauty of the Soul (Review)

This is the debut album from one-woman black/doom band Decompression from the US.

Decompression is a 53-minute collection of original compositions, (five), and cover songs, (three, including one from Forgotten Tomb). Stylistically, black/doom doesn’t really do it full justice, but it’s a loose descriptor that’s suitable enough. Continue reading “Decompression – Love Is the Beauty of the Soul (Review)”

Usnea – Bathed in Light (Review)

This is the fourth album from US doom band Usnea.

After loving 2014’s Random Cosmic Violence and 2017’s Portals into Futility, I am so completely ready for a new Usnea album. Bathed in Light brings us not only their shortest album yet at 43 minutes, but also many of their shortest songs. What does this mean for the Usnea we know and adore? Continue reading “Usnea – Bathed in Light (Review)”

Hellish Form – Deathless (Review)

Hellish Form are a doom/sludge band from the US and this is their second album.

Embrace the atmospheric nightmare sludge of Hellish Form. If you do, you won’t regret it. Featuring members of Body Void, Elder Devil, and Keeper, Deathless contains 48 minutes of the good stuff. If by good stuff you mean a compelling mood-focused mix of funeral doom, sludge, and drone, of course. Continue reading “Hellish Form – Deathless (Review)”

Mesmur – Chthonic (Review)

This is the fourth album from international funeral doom band Mesmur.

Following on from 2017’s S and 2019’s Terrene, Chthonic provides us with 48 minutes of new material from Mesmur. Spoiler alert: it’s the band’s best album yet. Continue reading “Mesmur – Chthonic (Review)”

Mare Infinitum – Cryosleep (Review)

This is the third album from Russian doom metal band Mare Infinitum.

Cryosleep contains 47 minutes of epic symphonic doom metal, although these simple words don’t really do the music here sufficient justice. Mare Infinitum’s style takes a base of death/doom and then builds on this with lavish orchestration and operatic depth. Continue reading “Mare Infinitum – Cryosleep (Review)”

Dream Unending – Song of Salvation (Review)

This is the second album from Canadian/US death/doom metallers Dream Unending.

Song of Salvation contains 44 minutes of atmospheric death/doom metal. The band features two members, who are in bands such as Outer Heaven, Sumerlands, Tomb Mold, and Vestal Claret, and between them they create an immersive tapestry of slow, mood-focused doom that’s as compelling and well-realised as it is enjoyable. Continue reading “Dream Unending – Song of Salvation (Review)”