Posts

Mama Doom - Imminent Womb

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Mama Doom is a doom metal band from Poughkeepsie, New York who changed to their current moniker in 2015 though actually formed in 2006 as The Gentling before changing to Deadtriss for a bit.  Their latest album, “ Eminent Womb ,” is their third full-length album, in addition to two EPs. As The Gentling, they released one full-length and under the Deadtriss name they released an EP.  This is my first experience with the band but “Eminent Womb,” has really resonated with me.   They don’t have a guitarist, but it doesn’t hurt their heavy factor at all—the bass is more than crushing enough - Chuckie Rumbles is a goddamn beast and his name fits him well.  According to Metallum, he is married to the band’s vocalist/keyboardist D.Lolli .  A married couple that plays doom?  How cool is that?  I’ll tell you: very cool.   Lolli’s vocals are among the best vocals I’ve heard this year.  She sings her ass off on this record, providing a dark but ex...

Filth - Death Exhibition

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Filth is a death metal band from Sweden, who formed in 2022.  Their latest album, “ Death Exhibition ,” is their second full-length release; they have also released a demo.   This Is some nasty death metal. Sometimes I feel like death metal is too overproduced, especially with the more modern bands. But “ Death Exhibition ,” is a rawer approach that sounds like it was mastered in a studio covered in a decayed soupy mix of racial swamp waters and blood. The tone on the instruments live through this sound, casting out filthy riffs, drumming passages of nightmarish might and bass that might be a demon. Speaking of the bass: the production may be raw, but the mix is on point and the bass barrels through it for one of the heavier low end sounds I've heard so far this year. Much like Incantation or Autopsy, Filth isn't afraid to add a hefty amount of doom metal to its more aggressive side.  The slower parts are really powerful and showcase just how extreme this band can ge...

Wharflurch - Mycodeath and Rebirth in the Outer Clusters

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Wharflurch is a death/doom metal band from Gainesville, Florida, United States who formed in 2019.  “ Mycodeath and Rebirth in the Outer Clusters ,” is their second full-length album; they have also released numerous EPs, splits, demos and compilations.  I haven’t reviewed them before, but I’ve been listening to the band for a hot minute now and they are definitely one of the more unique and interesting bands in the death/doom/whatever scene.  As with their previous releases, “ Mycodeath and Rebirth… ” is laced with psychedelic elements and passages of pure mind-fuckery.  Their sound is equally rooted in death and doom, the band using various tempos and a dual vocal approach to give their sound way more variety and dynamics than many others in the genre. This album really is an experience unto itself.  Sure, every song is a banger and there isn’t one bad song, but it’s better served taking this as a whole because its trippy tendencies will make you think as mu...

Theosophy - Line Before the Event Horizon

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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 - Kharon: Forbearance

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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 - Ride the Storm

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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 - Ascension Rock

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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 ...