Goya – In the Dawn of November (Review)

Goya - In the Dawn of NovemberGoya are a doom metal band from the US and this is their fourth album.

It’s been a long time since 2017’s Harvester of Bongloads, so it’s great to finally have a new album from Goya. The band’s previous album was stronger than most in the realms of doom metal, so expectations are high for the 40-minute In the Dawn of November. Continue reading “Goya – In the Dawn of November (Review)”

Ocultum – Buena Muerte (Review)

Ocultum - Buena MuerteThis is the third album from Ocultum, a doom band from Chile.

Buena Muerte is a 39-minute doom record that takes influence from the stoner and sludge styles. Ocultum have big presence, heavy riffs, a filthy sound, and crushing songs. What’s not to like? Continue reading “Ocultum – Buena Muerte (Review)”

Old Horn Tooth – Mourning Light (Review)

Old Horn Tooth - Mourning LightOld Horn Tooth are a doom metal band from the UK and this is their second album.

Mourning Light is massive, in more ways than one. There are four tracks, but each one is a doom monster, and the record’s total duration is 68 minutes. Old Horn Tooth aren’t messing around here, so strap in and prepare yourself for an avalanche of crushing doom. Continue reading “Old Horn Tooth – Mourning Light (Review)”

Acid Mammoth – Supersonic Megafauna Collision (Review)

Acid Mammoth - Supersonic Megafauna CollisionThis is the fourth album from Greek doom metallers Acid Mammoth.

I enjoyed 2021’s lumbering Caravan, so was pleased when the enormous snout of Supersonic Megafauna Collision appeared on the horizon. Delivering 42 minutes of new material, Acid Mammoth double down on their personable brand of doomgroove across these six new songs. Continue reading “Acid Mammoth – Supersonic Megafauna Collision (Review)”

Ponte del Diavolo – Fire Blades from the Tomb (Review)

Ponte del Diavolo - Fire Blades from the TombThis is the debut album from Italian blackened doom metal band Ponte del Diavolo.

Okay, so here we have something quite interesting. When the promo blurb mentions both Electric Wizard and Darkthrone, you know it’s one to take an interest in. I will say that this doesn’t fully cover what you’ll find on Fire Blades from the Tomb though, so I’ll also mention here bands such as Messa, King Woman, Vanishing Kids, and Siouxsie and the Banshees, to give a broader impression. Continue reading “Ponte del Diavolo – Fire Blades from the Tomb (Review)”

Damnation Festival 2023 – BEC Arena, Manchester, 04/11/23 (Live Review)

Damnation Festiva 2023 - PosterIt’s Damnation o-clock once more! This is always such a good festival to attend. The line up is an interesting and varied one, with some bands I’m less interested in, some that are an essential experience, and some frustrating clashes. I missed some great bands today, unfortunately, but that’s always going to be the case with such a jam-packed festival. Continue reading “Damnation Festival 2023 – BEC Arena, Manchester, 04/11/23 (Live Review)”

Flesh of the Stars – The Glass Garden (Review)

Flesh of the Stars - The Glass GardenFlesh of the Stars are from the US and play doom metal. This is their fifth album.

Flesh of the Stars are a band that I always enjoy catching up with. 2015’s Hide, 2017’s Anhilla, and 2019’s Mercy are all albums worthy of your time, and the same is true of their new record, The Glass Garden, doubly so in fact. Continue reading “Flesh of the Stars – The Glass Garden (Review)”

AAWKS/Aiwass – The Eastern Scrolls – Split (Review)

AAWKS Aiwass - The Eastern Scrolls - SplitAAWKS are from Canada and Aiwass is a one-man act from the US. Both play psychedelic doom.

The Eastern Scrolls is a 28-minute concept split release that consists of one track from each band. I’m totally unfamiliar with both AAWKS and Aiwass, but how could I resist giving this a listen with that striking cover? Continue reading “AAWKS/Aiwass – The Eastern Scrolls – Split (Review)”

Church of Misery – Born Under a Mad Sign (Review)

Church of Misery - Born Under a Mad SignThis is the sixth or seventh album, (depending on who you ask), from Japanese doom metal band Church of Misery.

Born Under a Mad Sign is a 55-minute Black Sabbath-influenced slab of humungous doom metal. It sounds pretty much exactly as you’d expect it to with this description, but it works well, and this is a very enjoyable album that should also find favour with fans of bands such as Electric Wizard, Sleep, Corrosion of Conformity, Orange Goblin, Trouble, etc. Continue reading “Church of Misery – Born Under a Mad Sign (Review)”

They Watch Us from the Moon – Cosmic Chronicles, Act I: The Ascension (Review)

They Watch Us from the Moon - Cosmic Chronicles, Act I The AscensionThey Watch Us from the Moon are a doom/stoner metal band from the US and this is their debut album.

Cosmic Chronicles, Act I: The Ascension provides us with a feast of progressive stoner doom. Across 45 minutes – five meaty songs – They Watch Us from the Moon impress with their charismatic take on a notoriously bland style. Spoiler alert: bland, this is not. Continue reading “They Watch Us from the Moon – Cosmic Chronicles, Act I: The Ascension (Review)”