This is the debut album from US black metal band Murk Rider.
Three enormous songs, with a combined duration of 82 minutes? Okay, I’ll bite.
An album of depth, both musically and thematically, Exile of Shadows is black metal in only one of its aspects, albeit a primary one. The band also occasionally incorporate apocalyptic sludge and stoner doom into their melting pot, as well as strands of classic heavy and speed metal. This curious, (yet effective), mixture means that Continue reading
This is a split between two US doom outfits, Primitive Man and Hell.
My love for and enjoyment of Primitive Man will be familiar to readers of this site. Suffice to say that I consider them to be one of the best purveyors of ugly, apocalyptic sludge/doom that there is. Continue reading
Destroyer of Light are a doom metal band from the US and this is their latest EP.
This 18-minute EP is comprised of two songs, both of which thrill and delight with their rich and immersive take on doom metal. Continue reading
Bismarck are a doom metal band from Norway and this is their debut album.
Here we have 35 minutes of doom metal that incorporates quite a few different sub-styles into its melting pot. Drawing on influences from stoner, doom, drone, progressive, sludge, psychedelic, and post-metal, Urkraft is a well-rounded and satisfying slab of heaviness. Continue reading
Apostle of Solitude are a US doom metal band and this is their fourth album.
So, the mighty Apostle of Solitude return! It’s been a long time since 2014’s Of Woe and Wounds, which I rated on my 2014 end of year best of list. Continue reading
This is the fourth album from UK doom metal band Alunah.
An obvious focal point for anyone listening to Alunah is the incredibly impressive singing voice of their vocalist. She has the kind of voice that can soar ethereally, while also providing softer, more intimate vocals when Continue reading
Risin Sabotage are a Ukrainian stoner doom band and this is their second album.
Here we have 45 minutes of exploratory stoner doom, creating vibrant soundscapes full of all manner of enjoyable fuzzed-out vibes. Continue reading
Brothers of the Sonic Cloth are a Stoner Doom band from the US and this is their début album.
Brothers of the Sonic Cloth are heavy and rocking, which is the Stoner influence; they’re also slow and mournful, which is where the Doom element comes in; however they also have a nasty side that manifests in the Sludge part of their sound.
The vocals are nicely varied, with everything from harsh shouting to crawling drawls. All styles are performed perfectly in line with the emotive music and the variety sounds natural rather than forced.
Like the vocals, there’s a lot on offer musically. The band aren’t one dimensional at all and the songs here truly do incorporate Stoner, Doom and Sludge into a cohesive package that covers a lot of ground during the 45 minutes playing time. The band are all seasoned veterans so I should expect no less really.
I’ve connected with this album on a deeper level than I thought I would. It’s an album that is diverse and feels like it takes you on a journey, which is a feeling I love in my music. More than that though, it’s the sound they’ve created; it’s heavy enough to be crushing but nuanced enough to retain character and personality.
Well, this album has been a surprise and a treat. Get ready to worship.
This is the début album from US Doom Metal band Wolf Blood.
Wolf Blood play Doom Metal – a cross between Traditional Doom and Stoner Doom.
The tunes here are memorable and kicked out with obvious passion and no shortage of charisma. It’s a testament to the band’s talent that the melodies and riffs that the band perform sound both familiar and fresh; ancient yet vibrant.
A mix of Traditional Doom and Stoner Doom could theoretically have descended into the mediocre quite quickly but Wolf Blood manage to side step this pitfall by taking the best aspects of each. This has resulted in a collection of songs that have the power and majesty of Doom with the energy and drive of Stoner.
The band have a really warm, welcoming sound that embraces the listener with good feelings and Doomy vibes. It’s not too polished and keeps an underground feel but it does the band justice and the songs sound authentic and engaging.
There’s a lot to like here. Wolf Blood clearly know what they want to achieve and I think their début album succeeds in this.
Listen up Doomsters, there’s a new power in town.
Wo Fat are from the US and this is their fifth album of Doom Metal.
They have a warm sound that’s very welcoming and makes the listener immediately feel at ease; familiar but not overly so. This is Stoner/Psychedelic Doom in the traditional and spaced out way.
The singer has a good voice that seeps like honey over the rolling drums and infectious riffs. Speaking of, there are some glorious riffs to be had on The Conjuring.
And this is heavy. Joyously heavy. The guitars revel in themselves. Occasional solos snake their way in a lazily serpentine fashion across mountainous riffs that should get even the most jaded Metal fan moving.
The band seem to play these songs without any apparent effort, as if it is the easiest thing in the world to peel off colossal riffs with a beat that won’t quit. They give the feeling of being involved in one big jam, but one that’s coherent and focused enough to not sound a mess at all.
A real exploratory album full of trips to the heavy, fuzzy, scuzzy world of Wo Fat; the songs entice and captivate, culminating in the 17:00 monster that is Dreamwalker.
On the whole, very impressive and very enjoyable; a great listen.
