Pilgrimage - From Amber To Sun

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Pilgrimage is a doom/death metal band of international origins, hailing from The Hague, Netherlands/Malta.  They formed in 2018 and their latest release, “From Amber To Sun,” is their second full-length album.

I was unfamiliar with the band before receiving this promo but by god they are on my radar forever.  I love all metal but doom is by far my favorite—and this album nails down exactly what I want to hear in doom, both in general, and specifically, for the more extreme ends of it.

What I like about this album is that while it is definitely rooted in death doom, it’s also bolstered by a Gothic atmosphere and it is melodic when needed.  The overall sound is both devastating and sullen yet it’s dynamic enough that every song brings something different.  It’s a cohesive listening experience that flows remarkably from beginning to end. 

I also appreciate the song lengths—they aren’t too long nor too short.  Each song really seems self-contained and has everything it needs without feeling incomplete.  That is, at times, a hard thing for some doom bands to pull off but Pilgrimage nail it.  

Check out the somber opening notes of “The Cosmic Traveler.”  It’s foreboding....I can definitely tell the band is about to kick into high gear but it’s also a delicate touch, a Gothic embrace.  By the time a minute has passed, the band is already full-on crushing bones.  They certainly don’t waste time with these songs, quickly choosing what to use, how to use, and when to deploy it.  The middle part is delicately balanced between heavy and melodic elements and, with the spoken word vocals, even a little theatrical. 

“Whispers On Stellar Seas,” forgoes their tinges for full on down and dirty death doom that’s as cold as the grave and as heavy as the gravestone. But the delicious guitar harmonies create a perfect bridge for the song to switch to a melodic passage.  Everything this band does is with purpose and sounds very natural from moment to moment.  After the halfway park, the band kicks the tempo up a notch, driving a steady rhythm that rivals any death metal I’ve heard.  

My two favorite tracks are two of the deep cuts, further proving how dedicated the album is in providing a rich, full experience all the way through. “Cove of Wisdom,” is one of these songs.  The strong lead guitar melody in the beginning is simple but haunting, riding against the heavy guitars/bass for a striking contrast.  The female cleans are a fantastic addition and they elevate the song to exciting heights!  Her whole passage is dark yet beautiful, a sort of serenity drowned in black.  The song builds back up to death/doom very nicely but it is the ending that is gripping, with all these previously mentioned elements swirling together.

The other track that’s a favorite is the final one, the title track "From Amber To Sun.”  The combo of dense riffs and lead guitar is immediate and sets the tone perfectly.  Heike Langhans’s vocals are insanely complimentary of the song, adding in another dimension alongside the death growls. Speaking of which, the growls seem extra vicious on the song and I’m all about that.  The drums is intense as well—the band pulled out all the stops for this final act!

Pilgrimage’s “From Amber To Sun,” is an engrossing death/doom metal album that hits all the sweet spots of what I love about the genre.  It’s balanced songwriting and constantly engaging atmosphere makes this one a definite must listen for fans of the genre. 

Rating:  Excellent













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