The Cimmerian - An Aged Undreamed Of

The Cimmerian is a doom/sludge/stoner metal Band from California who hit the scene in 2022 with their first single “Neckbreaker of the Mountain.”  

After two EPs, they are now ready to drop their full-length debut “An Age Undreamed Of.”  This is a well written album that hits all the right notes! It is nearly an hour long with eight songs but it flows smoothly, despite how abrasive the music is. 

There is a huge stoner vibe to it but it doesn’t sound sleepy—it sounds rumbling like a volcano leading up to an eruption.  The bass helps a lot with this…in fuzz we trust!  The guitars are thick and paired with the bass….this is a heavy hitter of an album that constantly feels like a  two punch to the face.   The drums are yet another fantastic album; much like the guitars/bass, their sound is robust and just adds another layer to what is already a mountainous project.   The vocals are sludge grows/yells, that are the audio equivalent of having a sandpaper bath.

The album begins with “Shadow Kingdom,” and immediately feels the production/mix is just as important to the band as the songwriting.  It’s a heavy, sweltering atmosphere that captures the sonic density of the genre.  This short but sweet song is an instrumental that starts the album off on the right, lead heavy foot.  Most intros are worthless but this is a prime example of how to do one correctly.

The first full song, “Neck Breaker of The Mountain,” sounds pretty much like what such a title would conjure in one’s head.  The drums add an intensity to the song that feels like it will bring it collapsing under its own weight.  But that isn’t the case—the drums hold up all the other elements.  The groovy, fuzz riffs and vocals rip through the song with a fury that matches any extreme metal I’ve heard lately.  The band is at their best when they have jams sessions, throwing out riff after riff.  It’s done on this song around the halfway point.  It’s so goddamn potent that it’s nearly surreal. 

“Darkwolf,” shows off the atmospheric side of the band.  Expansive riffs and clever drumming build up an unique world of desolation as the song ramps up the energy.  The song picks up little by little until it’s a massive maelstrom of groove, crashing drums, and mad vocals.  Even on an album that is nothing but intensity, this one is a burner.  Around the 4:18 mark, the song pulls back slightly before leading heavy on psychedelic/stoner vibes.  The guitar solo is hazy and fantastic, fitting right in where it needs to be.  

The album remains consistent throughout, with some of the deep cuts being among the best.  “Black Coast Tigris,” is a barrage of wreckage alongside the road to devastation.  At the 1:53 mark, the vocals bark loudly one final time before the band enters another session of rifftastic passage and explosive drums.  The lead guitar offers more subtle but mind melting solos as the freight train rhythm machine rolls on.  

Now we come to the final song, the epic “Monarch.”  It’s ten and a half minutes long and each second brings the bones closer to dust.  This is a dark song, very bleak in the beginning and dangerous every second after.  The atmosphere feels like the high point of desperation before realizing there isn’t a thing to be done other than just accept one’s fate. Even the clean parts have a sense of foreboding dread as it bridges the two halves of the song together.  

The Cimmerian’s “An Age Undreamed Of,” is a fantastic way to start the new year and one of the heaviest damn albums I’ve heard lately.  Any fan of doom/sludge will want this on their radar—and I’ve no doubt that even the mos hardcore fans of the style will still be suprised by the band’s palpable approach to sonic density.