Rotting Kingdom – A Deeper Shade of Sorrow (Review)

Rotting Kingdom - A Deeper Shade of SorrowThis is the debut album from US death/doom metal band Rotting Kingdom.

Rotting Kingdom’s 2017 EP of the same name was one that I very much enjoyed, so now that a full length is on the horizon, it’s time to immerse ourselves in the band’s worthy take on the death/doom style. At only 38 minutes in duration, A Deeper Shade of Sorrow is shorter than many albums of this style, and therefore doesn’t outstay its welcome. In fact, I could easily have taken a little more material. Continue reading “Rotting Kingdom – A Deeper Shade of Sorrow (Review)”

Ilienses Tree – Till Autumn Comes (Review)

Ilienses Tree - Till Autumn ComesIlienses Tree are an Italian death/doom metal band and this is their debut album.

After really enjoying 2017’s Edda, it’s good to now have a full length from Ilienses Tree. Continue reading “Ilienses Tree – Till Autumn Comes (Review)”

Fjords – Onirica (Review)

Fjords - OniricaFjords are a progressive metal band from the UK and this is their debut album.

Onirica is an interesting and wide-ranging album, spanning, as it it does, elements of melodic doom and death metal, (think bands such as Katatonia, Opeth, and Agalloch), as well as more modern progressive and atmospheric metal. The end result is a curious mix of old and new, wrapped up in a professional, polished package that allows the band to be displayed in their best light. Continue reading “Fjords – Onirica (Review)”

Coffins – Beyond the Circular Demise (Review)

Coffins - Beyond the Circular Demise

This is the fifth album from Coffins, a death metal band from Japan.

I haven’t caught up with Coffins since 2015’s Craving to Eternal Slumber, but of course this highly prolific band have been busy since then on a number of releases. Beyond the Circular Demise is their latest full length, delivering 43 minutes of doom-infused death metal. Continue reading “Coffins – Beyond the Circular Demise (Review)”

Mourner – Apogee of Nihility (Review)

Mourner - Apogee of NihilityThis is the debut album from Mourner, a death/doom metal band from Russia.

In a surprisingly textured mix of gloomy atmosphere and deathly heaviness, Mourner’s first release is an enjoyable take on the death/doom style. It seems primarily influenced by the old-school triumvirate of Paradise Lost, Anathema, and My Dying Bride, and fans of these bands and the corresponding era should find much to enjoy here. Continue reading “Mourner – Apogee of Nihility (Review)”

Onirophagus – Endarkenment (Illumination Through Putrefaction) (Review)

Onirophagus - Endarkenment (Illumination Through Putrefaction)Onirophagus are a Spanish death/doom metal band and this is their second album.

The phrase ‘crushing doom’ was made for a band like Onirophagus. Well, ‘crushing death/doom’ is more accurate I suppose, but it probably doesn’t matter too much. The operative word here is ‘crushing’. Continue reading “Onirophagus – Endarkenment (Illumination Through Putrefaction) (Review)”

Depleted – Conjurations of Void (Review)

depleted - conjurations of voidDepleted is a one man death/doom band from the US and this is his debut demo.

Brought to us by a member of the rabidly aggressive Maltheist, Depleted is a different proposition, but no less nasty in intent. Continue reading “Depleted – Conjurations of Void (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)”