Tethra is a doom metal band from Italy, who formed in 2008. Their latest release, “Withered Heart Standing,” is their fourth full-length album; they have also released an EP.
I discovered Tethra back in 2020 when I reviewed their third full-length album, “Empire of the Void,” for Metal Temple. I gave the album high marks and still listen to it on occasion to this day. So how does “Withered Heart Standing” compare to an album I so obviously love?
It’s just as good, and in some ways, even better. “Withered Heart Standing,” has eight songs, two less than the previous album. It’s also about eight minutes shorter, with a runtime of just under 49 minutes. This slightly shorter approach is better because it trims the fat and offers a more focused album. It flows a lot better too, with no filler.
The band’s brand of melodic death/doom remains intact but they also explore more Gothic elements this time around. Gothic and doom go hand in hand so it’s a welcomed approach, in my humble opinion. The slow to mid-paced doom is emotive and not afraid to introduce melodies while the Gothic aspects had a subtle, regal quality to the songs.
The core lineup of vocalist Clode, bassist Salva, and guitarist Federico remains intact. New additions, drummer Lorenzo and other guitarist Gabriele join the fray. All parties involved do a splendid job in bringing the album’s vision to life. Federicio and Gabriele are excellent at keeping the songs heavy and intense while still layering them with melodies and introspective moments. Clode’s vocals only improve and are more potent than ever. Whether it’s a death growl, scream, or a deep clean, he does it all.
The production is utterly amazing. It has a warm and deep feel to it that brings out the emotional nature of both the lyrics and music. Lyrically, the band gets more personal than ever, offering perspectives on loss, rejection, and solitude. I mean, this is doom metal. If you are expecting tales of sunshine and puppies then maybe you’re in the wrong genre.
There isn’t a bad song on the album so I’m going to touch on a few that really hit me but this is such a smooth flowing album with so many strong moments that it’s best to listen from beginning to end. I promise you won’t get bored, not even for a second.
The band begins this new opus with the beautifully amazing “Liminal.” The clean tones that kick it off are layered and build up wonderfully. There is a classic feel to this part, embracing Gothic doom with open arms. Around the one minute mark, the guitars kick in with guitars that provide heavy crunches that slide in and out of surprisingly catchy grooves and melodies. The subtle keys have a tight grasp on this sorrow-filled song and I was nearly brought to my knees before the song even really begins.
Around the two minute mark, the awesome death growls rip through and bring with them a slow tempo change that we all love about doom. The chorus is yet another catchy element that hooked in me for many repeated listens. Who says Gothic melodic death/doom metal can’t be catchy while also having depth? Of course it can. Tethra’s strong songwriting won’t allow for anything less.
“Days of Cold Sleep,” has a guitar melody that reaches deep inside the heartstrings and will not let go. From one second to the next, each note of this song is perfectly placed to create the next moment. I love the deep bass that props up the entire song, a strong undercurrent of darkness for the band to lay their tapestry. The vocal cadence is infectious as are the harmonies of the background vocals. Elisabetta Marchetti (vocalist on INNO’s debut album “The Rain Under”) provides her majestic cleans—she pairs so damn well with Clode’s growls. Fantastic!!! Just over the halfway point, a baroque and classic passage divides the song, bridging it together in quite the sterling way.
I maintain that an album’s title track should be one of the best songs and Tethra take that notion and run with it—definitely one of the best here and one of the best they have ever written. The tight, galloping rhythms carry the deep, Gothic cleans forward. This song is like one big wall of emotional sound and, in case you haven’t noticed a pattern here, is catchy as hell. The song doesn’t have any extreme vocals but the drum's thick double bass makes up for that, keeping the band’s death metal influences not too far away.
As the album progresses, it actually gets better; several of the deepest cuts are some of their most heavy, and beset, songs. Case in point is “Behind The Scars.” The extreme vocals are vicious and the music behind them is some of the most convincing doom I’ve heard in this last half of the year. The intensity builds, highlighted by killer cymbal work and destructive bass. The song gets epic after the halfway mark…I can just feel the emotions pouring outward from the band and into me. Super intense and another one of the best moments from the band’s career.
The final song, “Commiato,” is a so-called ballad that begins life with clean pianos and a gentle but powerful vocal performance. Around the three minute mark, sweltering riffs kick in turning the song from tragic to despondent
Tethra’s “Withered Heart Standing,” is another great album in an unstoppable discography. This album pushes their sound forward while retaining the elements that make them so grand in the first place. I’ve no doubt this album solidifies their place in the pantheon of doom metal.
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