Carcolh - Twilight of the Mortals

Carcolh is a doom metal band from France, that formed in 2016.  Their latest release, “Twilight of the Mortals,” is their third full-length album. 

The band leans towards a more old-school, traditional style of doom metal that focuses on soaring vocals and huge riffs.  But it sounds very modern, in terms of sonic density—this album is HEAVY.  Being doom, the songs are slow to mid-paced for the most part but there is undeniable energy to their music that I found to be highly engaging and gripping from beginning to end.   There are few things in life I like more than a doom album that embraces what it is without any apologies.  "Twilight of the Mortals" is that album. 

It’s subtleties go a long way into making the music so appeal, specifically how the band handles their sense of melody.  It’s got more than enough melodic edges and catchy harmonies but they are presented as one big sound that moves along as confidently as the heavier aspects. 

Vocalist Sébastien Fanton is fantastic—clean but loud and powerful, without being overly falsetto.  His voice pairs so goddamn well with Quentin and Olivier’s thick riffs.  Mathieu’s bass is the monster in the closet, adding a fullness to the music that adds another degree to the slow moving roar that make up their songs.

The album’s opening song, “For Every Second…” is a great opener because it sets the stage for the whole album and does a fine job in representing their overall sound.   Just listen to those riffs in the beginning.  This is DOOM!  The bass keeps the heavy factor going during the stanzas, where the vocals are front and center while the guitars hang back.  They return as his lines wind down, providing deep hooks that will grab you, pulling you down into their depths.  The later half of the song could fit into the pantheon of Gothic/doom metal and this surprisingly somber twist made the song even better. 

“The Battle Is Lost,” is a little faster on the tempo with groovy gallops hurtling the song perpetually forward.  The cymbal work is catchy and clever as hell-- Benoît Senon is an excellent drummer who handles slow music with no issues at all, always providing an entertaining performance.  By the time the vocals kick in, the song is firing on all cylinders.  The chorus is an earworm too, which is always a good thing.  The layers build up in the second half when the guitar throws some magic over the chorus.  A death growl, which is something I didn’t expect but very welcomed, kicks off a doom groove riff fest  that leads into a melodic solo.

The highlight of the album, and my personal favorite song presented, is the final epic song, “Empty Thrones.”  At nearly 12 minutes in length, this is an amazing example of how to doom in 2025.  It wastes little time in building up, the song throwing out riffs, riffs, and more riffs.  How many riffs are in this song?  All of them.  It speeds up around the 4:39 mark, a steady romp held together by incredible drums.  The intensity, and sheer sonic density, from this moment all the way to the solo around the 7 minute mark is profound.    The last few minutes bring back the band’s penchant for Gothic melodies, ending the song and album in a stark moment.  

Carcolh’s “Twilight Of The Mortals,” is a strong representation of traditional but modern doom that proves a band doesn’t have to be extreme to offer a deep experience of unrelenting doom. 

Rating: Great