Doomed For Metal Reviews

Sorrowful Land is a death/doom metal band from Ukraine, who formed in 2014.  It’s actually a one-man project from musician Max Molodtsov .  “ Hiraeth ” is the fourth full-length album under the moniker; a demo, split, and an EP have also been released.  I reviewed the previous album, “ Faded Anchors of the Past ,” when I worked for Metal Temple so I was excited to dive into this one. How does this one compare?  Sorrowful Land have definitely upped their own game and it doesn’t hurt that Stefan Nordström ( Soliloquium , Ashes of Life , Desolator ) helps out with vocals.  Max himself is an absolutely outstanding musician and songwriter.  On this album, he weaves plenty of epic doom tales, each of them stuffed with memorable riffs and emotional melodies and harmonies.  “Hiraeth,” is one heavy album and it can be quite intense at times but it’s also gripping, atmospheric, and even cinematic in its breadth and scope. It sounds like a dream too—the product...

Antiversum is an extreme metal band from Switzerland who formed in 2010. Their latest release, “ De Nemesis Omnes et Omnia ,” is their second full-length album; they have also released a demo and a split. The band combined black, death and doom into a mix that is alien—and frightening as hell. Words like “cosmic” or “spacey” could be applicable here but this album is so much more than that. There is the atmosphere “endless void of horror” and this is basically the metal soundtrack for Event Horizon. But as atmospheric as the album is, it is still very grounded in its extremes. This isn't the type of album with a lot of long ambient passages or lush soundscapes. It is very much riff based and leans on each of its elements to create the harrowing feeling each song gives. Each of the album’s five songs are long but they are also distinct from each other enough that the length isn't an issue. The tempos are handled very well, the album having a decent amount of both slow and fas...

Krigsgrav is a blackened doom metal band from Texas who formed in 2004. Their latest release, “ Stormcaller ,” is their 8th full-length album; they have also released a demo and an EP. I'm only familiar with this band's last few releases but, “ Stormcaller ,” is the best of what I've heard. It's an interesting release because the atmosphere is cold and distant yet the production has a certain warmth to it that brings out the melodic moments. It isn't just the melodies that make the album stick out, either. The songs are quite sweeping and come laced with post elements.  Of course, being black metal, it has plenty of aggressive moments but nestled between them is where the doom and gloom lives, bringing out the best of the song writing.  I also like how the elements, even when they are starkly different, work with each other rather than against.  Even when the riffs are pulled back to act as more of a layered gathering of notes instead of actually riffs, the drums a...

Novembers Doom is a melodic doom/death/dark band from Chicago, Illinois who formed in 1989 as Laceration before changing to their classic moniker in 1992. Unless I’m mistaken, they are one of the longest running doom bands from America still active today.  Their latest album, “Major Arcana,” is their twelfth full-length album. They are also one of my favorite bands so I feel a little guilty reviewing this but good music is good music and I definitely don’t feel guilty for that!  The band isn't a stranger to line-up changes, but it has been solid for a good while now and that is something I love to see.  Larry and Vito's guitars are on point, as always and they can play whatever the songs need.  Mike's bass and Garry's drums are a solid rhythm machine, capable of supporting their teammates but stepping out beyond the box as well.  The album begins with the intro track, “June.”  As far as this type of song goes, it works well within the context of the album....

Usually this is the part where I give a brief description of the band in question and talk about their discography.  Well, this is Amorphis so I’m going to skip it.  If you don’t know these absolute legends by now, you probably aren’t even going to be the type of person to find your way to my little blog in the first place. Amorphis are actually in my top 5 favorite bands of all time so I'll try not to fan boi out here. “ Borderland ,” is the Finnish band’s 15th album, a number so many bands never even make it halfway to.  That in of itself is an accomplishment but it’s even more of a statement that it’s actually damn good— Amorphis seem incapable of making a bad album and they have been on fire since Joutsen joined them.   As far as their most recent output is concerned, “ Borderland ,” finds itself, not quite as heavy as “ Halo ,” but much more a smooth and flowing listen than “ Queen of Time .”   Personally, I don’t think it’s better or worse than ei...

Ritual Mass is a death metal band from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania who formed in 2016.  Their latest release, “ Cascading Misery ,” is their full-length debut album; they have also released a demo, an EP, and a compilation. “ Cascading Misery ,” is a frighteningly dark and disturbing album.  While the tempo and aggression is definitely on the death metal side of the genre, the atmosphere and tone of the album is more along the lines of doom metal.  This doomed out style makes for an arresting performance, revealing an album that is both brutal yet seething with a high level of despondent decay.   I like a good dark, deep, extreme metal album and this one is one of the evillest sounding ones I’ve heard this year in the style.  I think it’s brutal enough for death metal bands but definitely melancholic enough for doom this as well.   The misery comes in several levels and shades.  The blackest of black tones begin the album as they introduce the f...

Argesk is a melodic black metal band from the UK who formed in 2017. Their latest release, “ Moonlight Pyromancy ,” is their second full-length album; they have also released a demo.  “ Moonlight Pyromancy ,” is a ridiculously entertaining album—it’s fun as hell! Wait, what? Fun? Entertaining? I thought this was black metal! Make no mistake: it is definitely blackened to the core. But even black metal can be catchy and epic. The melodic nature of the album is layered and flows amongst the heavier elements with ease, making the album perfect for listening straight through or on a piecemeal basis. I wouldn’t call this atmospheric per say, as in incorporating any outside the box elements or ambient pieces, and it doesn’t venture into post elements. This is straight up melodic black metal done the right way. The songs are still vicious with an up tempo, alongside black metal screams, death growls, and even cleans sprinkled here and there.   I like the productio...

God’s Funeral is a doom/death metal band from Spain who formed in 2016.  After a string of demos, EPs, and splits, the band is dropping their monumental full-length debut album, “ El Despertar Dels Morts .” This album has a classic death/doom feel to it.  Crushing riffs, deep death growls, and a rhythm section that’s so dense it could hold back the strongest of storms.  It’s also loaded with a Gothic atmosphere and a keen sense of melody–subtle but so important to the progression of the songs.   Amongst the very heavy songs, keyboards and violin thrive as well like flowers growing in a graveyard.  Their inclusion isn’t overused but helps with the pacing at just the right times. Speaking of pacing:  this album is SLOW.  A lot of death/doom bands lean into the death metal side with sudden tempo changes or a couple songs with a big groove.  God’s Funeral isn’t one of those bands and “ El Despertar Dels Morts ,” isn’t one of those albums.  ...

Ashes of Ares is a metal band based in New York that formed in 2012.  Their latest release, “ New Messiahs ” is their fourth full-length album.  Unless you’re new metal (in that case, WELCOME!), you probably know this band features former Iced Earth members Matt Barlow and Freddie Vidales .   “ New Messiahs ,” is quite the aggressive album; the band has been trending that way for awhile and I’m all here for it.  Barlow’s vocals only get better with the passing of time—he is in incredible form here.  He displays his prowess but is also very vicious at times.   Freddie’s guitar/bass offers the perfect companion for the vocalist, continuing to showcase how perfect of a duo they are.  Session drummer Kyle Taylor , who played on their previous EP release “ Throne of Iniquity ,” brings a beefy, sterling performance.  The three of them burn through this album like a raging firestorm. The album begins with the intro “ Novus Ordo ,” and as far...

Falling Leaves is a melodic death/doom metal band based in Dubai who formed in 2009.  Their latest album, “ The Silence That Binds Us ,” is their second full-length album—and their first one in 12 years.  Surprisingly, I’ve never heard of the band until now but I hope they don’t wait another decade or so to release something because “ The Silence That Binds Us ,” is a fantastic piece of doom metal.   It also has Paul Kuhr ( Novembers Doom ) on guest vocals so that’s another plus.  The band’s own vocalist, Bashar, is just as effective and emotional in his deliveries as well.  The album’s atmosphere is brooding and melancholic, but it isn’t overly slow or plodding as some doom, as it remains very energetic with the death metal side of their influence.  But it isn’t oppressively heavy either. If anything, it’s quite spacious and open; that works for the album because it has heavy Gothic influences too, particularly with the keyboards.  Speaking of ke...