Doomed For Metal Reviews

     IN LOVING MEMORY is a melodic death/doom band from Spain, who formed in 2005. "The Withering" is their third full length album; they have also released one demo and an EP. I discovered IN LOVING MEMORY months back and have been excited about this release for some time. Their brand of doom is both expansive and moving and "The Withering" continues this. What stands out on this album is that it is so musical. What I mean about this is every instrument gets their time to shine without a single one overpowering the other. It isn’t just one huge slab of guitar that sort of hangs there or one riff that keeps going and going. There is a lot of happening in each of these songs. It is depressing yet melodic and enlightened. Any fans of melodic tinged, Gothic doom with death growls won't find anything here original but fortunately you will also find a well composed album that you won't be able to put down.        The album opens with "Stellar Runaw...

     Anthems Of Isolation is a death/doom band from Iraq, which is interesting in of itself because I don't know if I've ever heard a band from this country before, much less one in this style. "Apocalyptic Portrayals," is a funeral doom album but it does things a bit different than what other bands usually bring to the genre. The most obvious aspect is the songs are much further than usual. Instead of songs that be fifteen or twenty minute longs, this album focuses on a range that is much shorter, with the longest song being eight and a half minutes long and the shortest just five and a half minutes long. I actually found this to be rather enjoyable because I don't always have the time to jam out to a song that might take ten minutes just to get going, although I certainly do appreciate that style. But this one is something       I appreciate equally--after all, funeral doom is a style that doesn't need to be pigeon holed by long song is they ...

     White Mare is a death/doom metal band from Switzerland/Netherlands that formed in 2019.  "Isle Of Bliss" is their debut full length album.  And what a a debut it is!  This is the kind of doom that I crave: long songs, ultra slow, and full of the kind of dismal atmosphere that would make a funeral seem festive by comparison.     Elements other than death metal also include a blackened sound, particular with some of the higher pitched growls/screams.As previously stated, the music is at a crawling pace but it never lulls and is made infinitly interesting by the tone and vibe of each of the songs.  Lush, layered textures permeate throughout the album, the songs having no true form.  I actually really love this aspect because it gives the album an wide open, fluid feel.  When it comes to doom, this helps offset the lack of speed or intensity.       The album opens with "No Isle Of Bliss,'' and that long not...