Doomed For Metal Reviews

Cosmic Reape r is a stoner doom metal band from Charlotte, North Carolina who formed in 2017.  Their latest release, “ Bleed The Wicked, Drown The Damned ,” is their second full-length album; they have also released an EP, demo, and a split album. This is my first experience with Cosmic Reaper, but I am impressed.  The riffs are gargantuan, like some kind of hulk Kaju in musical form.  With each song, the guitars and bass rip my ears open, deepening the hole to my brain.  While I was headbanging, my brain was vibrating but such is the sacrifice us doom metal fans wholeheartedly embrace.  According to their Metallum page, they have three guitarists in addition to a bassist.  They certainly use this quad attack to a very effective nature—this is one of the heaviest non-extreme metal albums I’ve heard all year.   I like the atmosphere a whole lot too—it’s perfect for the upcoming Fall weather.  It’s also psychedelic and a little horrific…. this ...

Slomatics is a doom metal band from Northern Ireland who formed in 2004.  Their latest release, “ Atomicult ,” is their 8th full-length album; they have also released 11 splits, two live albums and an EP.  Despite their length of service and sizable discography, I’m not super familiar with Slomatics ’ music, having previously only heard their prior album, “ Strontium Fields .”  I wasn’t a huge fan of that one, to be honest, but after “ Atomicult ,” dropped into my inbox, I figured I enjoyed the previous effort enough to give this one at least a listen or two.   I’m glad I did because “ Atomicult ,” is a very interesting album.  Obviously, it is a heavy album considering it fits firmly into the world of doom metal.  It isn’t extreme doom but it’s intense all the same.  It’s also a mindfuck of an album with a lot of atmospheric passages that are as enthralling and enveloping as their heavier side.  The most impressive aspect of this album is t...

Horror Within is a death metal band from France who formed in 2019. Their latest album, "Soul Awakening" is their debut album; they have also released an EP. I was surprised by how good this album is. I shouldn't be, though, considering it is from Dolorem Records , who always prize quality over quantity (as one should) but “ Soul Awakening ” is an exceptionally well written album with a few surprises here and there. It can be dynamic too and I wasn't always sure what the songs would bring.  Of course, there are some elements that are guaranteed. Crushing riffs, violent rhythms and death growls abound—even with taking this album at face value, there is nothing any fan of extreme metal could find weak. When the band goes for broke and all these elements come together, their sound truly feels encompassing and even surreal.  With 8 songs at just over the 36 minute mark, it is the perfect length for multiple listens. It is from those multiple listens where the album begi...

Sorrowful Land is a death/doom metal band from Ukraine, who formed in 2014.  It’s actually a one-man project from musician Max Molodtsov .  “ Hiraeth ” is the fourth full-length album under the moniker; a demo, split, and an EP have also been released.  I reviewed the previous album, “ Faded Anchors of the Past ,” when I worked for Metal Temple so I was excited to dive into this one. How does this one compare?  Sorrowful Land have definitely upped their own game and it doesn’t hurt that Stefan Nordström ( Soliloquium , Ashes of Life , Desolator ) helps out with vocals.  Max himself is an absolutely outstanding musician and songwriter.  On this album, he weaves plenty of epic doom tales, each of them stuffed with memorable riffs and emotional melodies and harmonies.  “Hiraeth,” is one heavy album and it can be quite intense at times but it’s also gripping, atmospheric, and even cinematic in its breadth and scope. It sounds like a dream too—the product...

Antiversum is an extreme metal band from Switzerland who formed in 2010. Their latest release, “ De Nemesis Omnes et Omnia ,” is their second full-length album; they have also released a demo and a split. The band combined black, death and doom into a mix that is alien—and frightening as hell. Words like “cosmic” or “spacey” could be applicable here but this album is so much more than that. There is the atmosphere “endless void of horror” and this is basically the metal soundtrack for Event Horizon. But as atmospheric as the album is, it is still very grounded in its extremes. This isn't the type of album with a lot of long ambient passages or lush soundscapes. It is very much riff based and leans on each of its elements to create the harrowing feeling each song gives. Each of the album’s five songs are long but they are also distinct from each other enough that the length isn't an issue. The tempos are handled very well, the album having a decent amount of both slow and fas...

Krigsgrav is a blackened doom metal band from Texas who formed in 2004. Their latest release, “ Stormcaller ,” is their 8th full-length album; they have also released a demo and an EP. I'm only familiar with this band's last few releases but, “ Stormcaller ,” is the best of what I've heard. It's an interesting release because the atmosphere is cold and distant yet the production has a certain warmth to it that brings out the melodic moments. It isn't just the melodies that make the album stick out, either. The songs are quite sweeping and come laced with post elements.  Of course, being black metal, it has plenty of aggressive moments but nestled between them is where the doom and gloom lives, bringing out the best of the song writing.  I also like how the elements, even when they are starkly different, work with each other rather than against.  Even when the riffs are pulled back to act as more of a layered gathering of notes instead of actually riffs, the drums a...

Novembers Doom is a melodic doom/death/dark band from Chicago, Illinois who formed in 1989 as Laceration before changing to their classic moniker in 1992. Unless I’m mistaken, they are one of the longest running doom bands from America still active today.  Their latest album, “Major Arcana,” is their twelfth full-length album. They are also one of my favorite bands so I feel a little guilty reviewing this but good music is good music and I definitely don’t feel guilty for that!  The band isn't a stranger to line-up changes, but it has been solid for a good while now and that is something I love to see.  Larry and Vito's guitars are on point, as always and they can play whatever the songs need.  Mike's bass and Garry's drums are a solid rhythm machine, capable of supporting their teammates but stepping out beyond the box as well.  The album begins with the intro track, “June.”  As far as this type of song goes, it works well within the context of the album....