Doomed For Metal Reviews

Theosophy is a black metal band from Russia, who formed in 2004.  Their latest album, “ Line Before the Event Horizon ,” is their seventh full-length album; they have also released a demo, a split, a live album and a compilation.  They have put out a lot of music, but I’ve never heard of them before—that shows the depth of the metal world that someone like me, who has been a metal fan for 25 years, is still coming across well-established bands that were previously known to them.  The opening seconds of “ Path to the Void ,” definitely hit me like the North winds.  This song is cold, searing, and 100% against the grain.  This is a fantastic way to start the album because it is, in a way, refreshing.  I listen to (and review) a lot of black metal and although I love the dynamics the genre now offers, sometimes I just want something frozen and evil.  That’s exactly what this song gives me. With that being said, it still offers plenty of atmosphere and som...

The Medea Project is a doom metal band with origins from South Africa, although according to their Metallum page, they are now based in England.  Their latest album, “ Kharon :  Forbearance ,” is their third full-length album; they have also released five EPs.   I’ve reviewed the band’s previous two full lengths but skipped their “ Akkadian Artefacts ” EP that was released early this year.  No offense to the band but dark ambient/electronica just isn’t my thing.  However, “ Kharon: Forbearance ” is definitely something that is in my wheelhouse. This is a unique album because it’s the companion release to their previous full-length album from 2025, “ Kharon .”    This album is the raw, unpolished version of the aforementioned release, featuring early demos and rehearsal tracks from the recording sessions.  The Medea Project has always been pretty raw but this pushes the band’s sound to nightmarish, oppressive levels. Honestly, “ Kharon: ...

Ristridi is a metal band from Germany, who formed in 2023.  Their latest release, “ Ride the Storm ,” is their full-length debut but they have previously released an EP and a compilation/covers album.   It’s actually a one-man band, from musician Michael Wöß (Omega Point, Sektor) who handles all the instruments.  Guest/session members Alex " Ax " Meyer and Andreas " Anti " Schätz handle the harsh and clean vocals, respectfully. Their sound combines power metal with elements of melodic death, particularly in the vocals.  As expected, “ Ride the Storm ,” is a high-octane album with energy that is full to bursting.  The album is 8 tracks across a runtime of just over 32 minutes so it’s a quick ride and doesn't waste any time from song to song.  No intros, outros, or interludes…just a band throwing out eight bangers and it works wonders for them. There isn’t one song on here that isn’t catchy or filled with vibrant melodies and malicious speed.  Whet...

Hexecutioner is a doom/stoner/sludge metal band from Seattle that formed in 2020. Their latest release, “ Ascension Rock ,” is their third full-length album; they have also released a demo. I gave a lot of deserved praise to their previous full-length album, " Tornit " last year.  So, what's changed with their latest musical bomb of doom?  Does " Ascension Rock ," find the band turning into atmospheric electronica polka?  It's going to be a hell no, dawg.  Once again, and thankfully so, Hexecutioner have brought the hammer of doom down upon us all.  Except this time, it's more than one hammer.  It's a lot of hammers.  Ok, so all the hammers.  There are some changes though.  Vocalist/Guitarist  Erin Gravina played bass on the prior releases but this time  Daniel McManus handles the low-end axe---and he brings a devastating dimension to the album.  Alongside drummer,  Bryce Hebner , these three musicians have created an ...

Exitium Sui is a one-man blackened doom metal band Germany, who formed in 2020 but has now reloaded to Australia. The musician behind the project is E.S., also from Deadspace , Humanitas Error E st (among others).  The latest album, “ Unravelling ,” is the band’s/project’s third full length (if you count the expanded edition of “Endless” as a full-length). I didn’t review it, but I enjoyed the previous release, “ Endless / Regression ,” but “ Unravelling ,” is on another level entirely.  This album is a decayed beauty piece of art that matches misanthropic black metal with despondent doom….while also being moving and beautiful, albeit in a twisted, broken way.  Anyone who isn’t a metalhead, specifically one that loves underground metal, would find this to be raw, archaic noise but those who know, know.  There are subtleties to this album that make it hard to not want to listen to it.  In between the darkness, between the shadows that seem to swallow the light, ...

Ænigmatum is a death metal band from Portland, Oregon who formed in 2017.  Their latest album, “ Infinitude’s Passage ,” is their third full-length; they have also released two demos. I reviewed their previous album, “ Deconsecrate ,” for Metal Temple five years ago and haven’t been wondering what happened to the band.  Then suddenly, they drop this harrowing slab of death metal called “Infinitude’s Passage” without warning. This album is non-linear—if you are looking for something that is verse-chorus-verse then “ Infinitude’s Passage ,” may not be the album for you.  It’s bold, adventurous, and has many sharp turns around its corners among a world that’s stuffed with all kinds of things within its seamlessly endless corridors.   Despite their tech/prog path, “ Infinitude’s Passage ,” is an album that is also focused.  Despite how wild their music can get, the band doesn’t forget that, at the core, they are a death metal.  As such, this album has a r...

Fane is a doom/sludge band from Louisiana who hit the scene in 2024 with their EP Gallant Shroud ."  Now they have returned with their debut full-length, " Armageddon Scars ."  This album is a total banger. I love how balanced it is. “ Armageddon Scars ,” balances doom and sludge perfectly. It's low and slow without being plodding and languishing around trapped in its own sound—this darkness is always moving forward. The riffs are thick as hell, a sonic density that is unbreakable.  That's how doom should be. Period. But the tone is nasty and abrasive just like sludge to me. It's melodic in the right places and takes this path with a subtle approach—a slow loving glacier that edges its way through with singular purpose. The vocals are fantastic too. They sit somewhere between death growls and a Crowbar style rough shout. If that doesn't appeal to you then I guess you don't like good things. Nerd. The pacing is on target too.  With just five songs an...