Doomed For Metal Reviews

Gutvoid is a death metal band from Toronto, Canadawho formed in 2019. Their latest release, “ Breathing Obelisk ” is their second EP; they have also released a full-length and a split. Gutvoid and “ Breathing Obelisk ” are filth soaked in horror, burned in the cold vacuum of space and then resurrected as some sort of entity from which the only fate is death, or maybe something worse. The music matches the album’s artwork, that is for certain. The melodies, if you want to call them that, are cold and distant. The tone of the guitars are deep and expansive but offer the pressure of near unbearable weight. The band is at their best when the rhythm is tight but laced with ambient, spacey textures that make the songs scream out in unbridled terror. It takes a special band to harness the underground appeal of death metal while stepping it’s box. Gutvoid is that band and across the 30 minute, 4 song runtime, they grasp the void with outstretched claws. Can something be as scary as it...

Cobranoid is a metal band from Denver, Colorado who have dropped this banger of a debut self-titled EP. The FFO section of their press release that was sent to me mentions High On Fire .  Indeed, such a name drop requires a pedigree that few bands in the stoner/doom/sludge genre could back up.  Despite being a “newer” band with only this album under their belt so far, they back it up extremely well across this blistering six song, 29 minute speed ball of an album.  Their press release also called them a mix of thrash/speed and doom.  Once again, the band straight up nails that sound. It might be hard to believe that a band could be both doom and thrash but, the truth is, doom doesn’t always have to be slow.  Sometimes it is mid paced with a lot of groove—this isn't funeral or Gothic doom.  Much like HoF , Cobranoid mixes several genres at once and can go from slow to fast at the drop of a hat.  Regardless of how you may or may not feel about what they ...

Dead Sacraments is a doom metal band from Chicago, Illinois that formed in 2019. Their latest release, “The Pale Temple and Others ,” is their second full-length album.  This album is a gargantuan experience!  It consists of four massive slabs of doom, none of them under 10 minutes in length.  This is the kind of music I like:  long songs with a ton of depth and many great passages to them.  It’s expansive and deep but not to the point where it meanders off or loses track of itself.  The album is actually quite focused in every aspect, the song lengths running by smoothly.  I suppose some bands, even doom ones, bloat their music for the sake of it.  But that isn’t the case for “ The Pale Temple and Others .”  Every second is used because every second is needed. The songs don’t offer any real type of structure…this isn’t “verse, chorus, verse,” music and it’s all the better for it.  This allows each song to sound truly adventurous with r...

Deceased is an extreme metal band from Virginia who formed in 1985. “ Children of the Morgue ” is their 11th full-length album, although since their previous two were just cover albums, this is their first full-length of original material since 2018.   They are one of the more original bands from the scene, their sound not strictly being only death metal. They also incorporate aspects of hardcore punk, thrash, and traditional metal into their repertoire.  Despite its dynamic and eclectic musical path, “ Children of the Morgue ,” is a cohesive album with a decent flow from track to track. There are quite a few short tracks that act as interludes of sorts; they are of very degrees of style.  " Turn To Wither ,” is the best of them as it’s a riff focused instrumental that bridges the gap between two very good songs. With that being said, I could do without the other ones but, ultimately, they do serve their purpose. Regardless, the full songs are all solid and ther...

Vomitrot is a Swedish death metal band who formed in 2019.  Their latest release “ Emetic Imprecations ,” is their second album; they also released a demo in 2020. Based on the band’s name, artwork, promo photos and the song titles, I was fully prepared for “ Emetic Imprecations ,” to be absolutely insane.    I don’t think I truly could have ever been prepared for the special type of carnage that exists within this blistering six track, 26 minute long album. A lot of death metal is brutal, unnerving or abrasive.  Vomitrot offers that…plus nonstop insanity and a 100% uncompromising take against what constitutes good taste.  Does that sound like something you would like?  Hell yes, it does.  If not, why are you reading this review?  Go get some taste and come back to see me later.   That is, if I’m still alive.  If anything is going to kill me, if I am indeed going to be found a dead and bloated corpse wearing headphones, it will be b...

Phaëthon is an epic heavy metal band from London, England who formed in 2020. “ Wielder of the Steel ” is their full-length debut album but they have also released a split, demo, and an EP. So many bands mix various styles together these days and, while there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, it is refreshing to hear some good ol fashion heavy fucking metal. Of course, it could be argued there is power and speed metal involved but let’s not split hairs.   The 8 track, 42 minute long runtime will split you in half anyway as the band hammer out song after song.   Music of this nature runs the risk of sounding dated but “ Wielder of the Steel ” avoids that with a crystal clear modern production that still gives the band plenty of bite. The album does sound like a tribute the their influences in many ways but it also stands tall on its own and sounds fresh.  Vrath ’s vocals are exciting and energetic—his is a mid range voice that is expressive and power but ...

Demiser is a blackened thrash metal band from South Carolina, who formed in 2018. “ Slave to the Scythe ,” is their second full-length; they have also released two demos. This album sounds like it's burning in the fires of hell….and enjoying every minute of the pain. The guitar/bass tone sounds straight up menacing, an undeniable presence with an unquenchable thirst for violence. The drums complete the rhythm section, their tone equally as striking. The double bass is in the mix just right, powering the songs without over powering.  All of this is presented with the wild, unhinged destruction of dirty, nasty thrash. Take that thrash, melt it down to its raw form, and force it into a crypt so that it returns a few days later pised off and hungry with the need to run towards the nearest living thing and kill it. That's what this album is. It actually reminds me of old Skeletonwitch without as much melody, as that's been replaced venomous blasts of necrotic misanthropic ra...

Sotherion is a one-man black metal project from France, who formed in 2020.  After releasing a demo in 2022, the musician behind the project, BST, has dropped the full-length debut “ Vermine .” “ Vermine ” is a massive album; every element, from the production, all the way to the the vocal lines is dense with the intensity turned up to 20.   BST isn’t a stranger to the scene with bands such as Asoth , Aborted , and Balrog in his past and currently being active with Doedsvangr and Genital Grinder , among others.  As such, it should come to no surprise just how abrasive this album is.  The production/mix has a lot of say about this as well.  It’s raw and loud to the point where it sounds like a massive all of sound most of the time.  This may or may not work for some but I find it appealing for the style.  After a few listens, the songs begin to reveal themselves and the instruments don’t sound so muddy. It’s definitely a bass heavy album, my headphones ...

Solemn Ceremony is a doom metal band from Australia, who formed in 2017.  It’s actually a one-man project, from musician Phil Howell (also in Caprahed & Zlortcht ).  His latest album under this moniker is “ Chapter III ” which is, obviously, the third full-length album; there has also been a demo, EP, and a split.  Solemn Ceremony plays a brand of doom that is traditional in nature and, when the need arises, melodic.  With that being said, it has more than enough thick riffage and a powerful rhythm section.   Musically, nothing here is extreme but it rocks pretty damn hard for what it is and is a lot heavier than a lot of other traditional doom bands.  Vocally, Phil’s voice is clean but very gritty, often ending sentences with something close to a growl.  I find his style very fitting for the music, which is more gritty and rough than a lot of traditional doom. The production matches that raw power; it isn't often I heard music of this sty...

Föhn is a funeral doom band from Greece who formed in 2016. “ Condescending ” is their debut full-length album.  It shouldn’t be a surprise that Föhn is yet another great band from Greece.  There are many countries with ridiculously great scenes but Greece is a different beast altogether.  And so is Föhn ’s “ Condescending .”  I can say that with the utmost certainty that not only is this one of the best albums, doom or otherwise, I’ve heard in the second half of 2024, it is also going to be a very, very strong contender for album of the year.  It’s a stunning example of not only doom metal but music in general. “ Condescending ” has all the hallmarks of the funeral doom genre:  long songs, cavernous atmosphere, deep growls, slow music and an impenetrable rhythm section.  However, it is what it does with these elements that make it an engaging album and a step above a lot of other funeral doom.  Across the album’s four song, 57 minute runtime, I w...

Tsatthoggua is a black metal band who formed way back in 1993.  Their third full length album, “ We Are God ,” is their first album in 26 years!  I love it when “old” bands make a comeback to show everyone how it is done.   Of course, I was 10 years old when the band formed so I missed them the first time around.  Dammit, why did I miss my shot at being exposed to sadomasochism-themed blasphemous black metal at such a young age? Seriously though, this album completely destroys.  I’m not into sadomasochism and, according to the band’s bandcamp page, the album is “aimed at all the perverted black sad-crazies out there.”  Well, I’m not into any of that but I am definitely into extreme metal so, while I may not be the specific target audience for this madness, I enjoy it all the same.  The production/mix is impressive.  Due to the album, lyrics, and style, I just assumed the overall sound of the album would be akin to melted, hot garbage.  I...

Grendel’s Sÿster is a German metal band who formed in 2015. “ Katabasis Into The Abaton ,” is their debut full-length album; they have also released two EPs. This album, and band, is quite the surprise for me. I don't know of any other band that sounds like them and this debut album is very ballsy for doing something so different. Simply put, “ Katabasis Into The Abaton ,” is an album that defies categorization.  Yes, it's metal. Hell, it also has a lot of doom elements. But it also contains a heavy 70s influences plus folk and krautrock.  It's also jaunty and catchy as hell. These elements pair well with the production, which has a DIY feel that brings out all the individual elements in play as they manage to weave together in a cohesive mosaic. Much of the album's charm comes from vocalist Caro . She's charming, energetic, whimsical, actorly and sings her face off. Of course, I would dare discount the other members. Guitarist Toby is a master of many styles…one m...

Vile Rite s is a progressive death metal band from California, who formed in 2017.  “ Senescence ,” is their debut full-length, following “ The Ageless ” EP from 2022. “ Senescence ,” is an interesting extreme album.  Obviously it's death metal so it's heavy but it's layered with psychedelic tendencies built on top of a progressive structure that is sitting on top of a death metal foundation. If that seems like a lot that's because, we'll, it is. However the music isn't cluttered or a cacophony of noises. The solid production and mix is vibrant enough to capture the band's sound and their songwriting is clever enough to make songs that sound focused even though they tend to walk off the beaten path. Although it has the perfect runtime of 40 mins, there are only 6 songs and one of those is a short interlude so ill say a little about each song.  The use of clean, murky instrumentation in the beginning of the opening song “ Only Silence Follows ” is interesting...

Infernal Realm is a death metal band from Seattle, Washington who formed in 2017; “ Chamber of Desolation ” is their full-length debut album. This band and album comes seemingly out of nowhere, a surprise attack in the night from an apex predator that has been waiting patiently in the shadows.  Unlike a lot of “revival” bands that worship at the altar of late 80’s/early 90’s death metal, this band takes a slightly more modern approach and echoes the underrated greatness that is 2000’s era of death metal.  The album isn’t anything flashy and it’s not going to reinvent the wheel. But it does offer an intense ride that doesn’t let up for its 8 song, 37 minute run time.  This is the perfect length for such a style and it goes by quickly so this album does have a lot of replay value.  It’s also catchy as hell, having more earworms on it than any album this heavy as a right to be.  The riffs are solid as hell, the bass and drums make a rhythm section that rumbles as ...

Intolerance is a death metal band from Spain, who formed in 2015.  Their latest album, “ Waking Nightmares of an Endless Void ,” is their second full length album; they have also released a demo and an EP. Intolerance plays a vintage form of death metal that is heavy on the old school roots.  Groove, depraved vocals, and a beefy rhythm section take on the form of nonstop punishment.  At a length of 37 minutes across 8 tracks, the runtime is perfect for the style. It isn’t a complex album that feels the need to stretch outside its own considerable boundaries. Instead it’s a highly focused effort that knows exactly what it wants to do: go for the throat.  It’s intense in that respect but what I find enjoyable about it, and what keeps me coming back to it again and again, is that it's not bludgeoning and aggressive for the sake of it.  Sure, it’s simple and straightforward but it’s also a smartly written album that is crafted well.   The production and mi...

Mages Terror is a blackened thrash band from Australia; after releasing a demo in 2023, the band has unleashed “ Damnation’s Sigh t,” their full-length debut.  Even before I pushed play on the promo, I knew this would be at least decent—the pedigree of those involved is just too strong.   Bassist/vocalist Stillborn and lead guitarist Rotten are both from Pustilence–that alone is a good indication.  But Portal ’s Illogium is on board for guitars as well…so, yeah, this was destined to be badass.  It’s thrashy but not overly speedy—most of the songs are mid paced with speedier moments intertwined but I like that because it allows the songs to breathe white letting them be very guitar focused.  This album has a metric fuck ton of riffs.  Oh and has just as many guitar solos.   Although the vocals add much of the black metal elements, the atmosphere, which is cold and brooding, adds a necrotic underground feel to the proceedings. The rhythm secti...

Fulci is a brutal death metal band from Italy, who formed in 2013.  “ Duck Face Killings ” is their fourth full-length; they have also released two demos, a compilation, a split, boxed set, and two collaborations.   The band takes its namesake from Lucio Fulci , a legendary Italian horror film movie maker.  As such, it should come of no surprise that “Duck Face Killings,” is based on Lucio’s 1982 Giallo film “ The New York Ripper .”  I’ve never seen any of his movies, nor do I care to do so as I’m just not much of a horror film fan.  I’m just here for the death metal that “ Duck Face Killings ” so aptly delivers.  Gory, violent lyrics, brutal growls, and savage music is all contained within the 14 song, 32 minute long album.  It’s a very brief album in many respects but it’s also the perfect length for death metal of this style.  I wouldn’t want a Fulci album that it’s 100% uncompromising—” Duck Face Killings ” ups it to 200%. With that being...