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Showing posts from April, 2023

Shores Of Null - The Loss of Beauty

Shores Of Null is a melodic death/doom band from Rome, Italy. They formed in 2013 and 'The Loss of Beauty' is their fourth full length album.  This album was actually recorded back when their previous album, ‘Beyond The Shores (On Death And Dying)', was recorded between 2019 and 2020.  It was initially going to be their third full length but 'Beyond…' was chosen to be released first, as it better reflected the trying times of the pandemic. 'The Loss of Beauty' brings the band back to offering individuals songs and is much more melodic and dynamic than 'Beyond..' but the same melancholic sorrow still defines their sound. The instrumental portion of the songs find that sweet spot between downtrodden doom and mid paced melodeath.  But sprinkled throughout the album are blackened elements and it gives the music just the right amount of edge.  The drums and bass are one hell of foundation. They know exactly when to take a more melodic approach or take agg...

Mesmur - Chthonic

MESMUR is a funeral doom band, of international origins, that formed in 2013. Their latest album, 'Chthonic' is their fourth full length album. The bookend tracks are fine on their own if listening to the album straight through (which is recommended)  but as a piecemeal basis, they aren't the meat and potatoes like the three tracks in between. With that being said, 'Chthonic (Prelude)' is a decent intro that flows into the first proper track without missing a beat. The outro 'Chthonic (Coda)’ flows out from the previous track just as well and serves as a more introspective respite from the doom carnage that precedes it. 'Refraction,' begins with the barest of morose melodies just touching upon the incredible heaviness that are the guitars. The track is slow moving and never gets any faster—which is great. This song, and album as a whole, is almost like a love letter to funeral doom because everything about the genre is done incredibly well. This is good ...

Woe Unto Me - Along The Meandering Ordeals, Reshape the Pivot of Harmony

WOE UNTO ME is a doom metal band from Belarus who formed in 2007. 'Along the Meandering Ordeals, Reshape the Pivot of Harmony' is their third full length album. I suppose the best sub genre to put them into would be funeral doom. However, I don't think calling them gives the full idea of what they truly bring to the table for doom. Although no doubt a dark, heavy and depressing band, their sound is much more expansive and varied  than the average funeral doom band. In some ways, their sound is progressive in how far they are willing to stretch themselves. 'Along…' is all doom and gloom but it isn't all cavernous—the album has an open sound that is very exploratory without forgetting the roots of the genre. The album opens with 'Mired Down in the Innermost Thicket," and it is a solid indicator of the album's overall style and vibe. As expected it is a slow build up that features spoken word as the song gets more loud as the minutes tick by. Soon, dee...