Doomed For Metal Reviews

Tales of Mike is a one-man metal project from Germany, formed in 2022 by musician Mike Heß. The band plays a style of old school laced metal that combines epic metal and doom. After a slew of singles, a demo, and an EP, Mike is ready to drop the debut album “ Human .” I wasn’t sure of what to expect from this album, mostly due to the oddly titled name for the project but the PR company that sent it to me is a pretty good one so I figured why not check it out?   Definitely glad I did. “ Human ” is a rock solid album that I had a lot of fun listening to—from start to finish it doesn’t miss and is on point with the combination of its styles. The production is fantastic—clear, crisp, but captures every cleverly written note without sacrificing too much of the heaviness and doominess. Is that a word? It is now.   After an interesting intro song, “ Nomen Est Omen ,” that introduces the album, the album kicks into high gear with “ Nevermore .” This song begins with k...

Doomherre is a Swedish doom metal band who formed in 2021. Their latest release “ Plaguelords ” is their second full-length album. I reviewed their debut “ Bonegoat ” a couple years ago for Metal Temple; I found it to be an impressive debut so does Doomherre continue their upward march or do they fall into the sophomore slump? Short story? They are better than ever. Long story? Read on. The power trio upgrades their power to massive currents and nonstop surges. “ Plaguelords ,” is more groovy and harder hitting than the debut. However, it is also more melodic when it needs to be–and catchy as hell in places.  The production is much more dynamic and explosive. Each instrument hits loud and true with a lot of weight behind each note. The bass is notable, a constant thunderous performance that boosts the entire band to the next level. The drums are both crisp and sharp—holding down a foundation but making plenty of movements on their own. The vocals are clean but rough when needed ...

Atone is a funeral death/doom metal band from Portugal, who are dropping their full-length debut album, “ Rebirth in Despair ,” and it's one heavy pile of doom.  It’s low, slow, and cavernous—just like funeral doom should be. The album has really stood out to me over the weeks I’ve been listening to it because of how focused it is.  Atone know exactly what they want to play and how to play it.  Unlike some funeral doom, there isn’t a lot of liminal space or ambient passages across the album’s 5 song, 58-minute run time.  This is almost all densely packed extreme doom that flourishes in the world it lives in.   With that being said, there is just enough of that stuff to be effective, generating a unique atmosphere without it taking over the songs and losing the intensity that makes them so great in the first place. The production/mix is very enjoyable and is one of the reasons the songs stick out so much.  There isn’t much grime or fog over the music—it’s cl...

Novembre is a metal band from Rome, Lazio, Italy who formed back in 1990 as Catacomb before changing their name to their current moniker in 1993. Their latest album, “ Words of Indigo ,” is their 9th full-length album; they have also released two EPs and two splits.  Their sound takes doom metal and mixes it with Gothic textures, prog elements, and a ton of melody At this point in their career that has now expanded well over 30 years, I doubt they needed that introduction.  But this is their first full-length in almost a decade so maybe you needed a refresher.  Or, better yet, you could just listen to this album—-" Words of Indigo ,” is a fantastic album and also as good of a point as any in their discography to start with.   “ Words of Indigo ,” is a vivid, dynamic portrait of musicians still at the top of their game.  This is an album with incredible depth and comes in many flavors, yet it still carries on the basic concept of the band’s established sound...

I reviewed Vast Pyre ’s self-titled debut a couple years ago when I wrote for Metal Temple so imagine my excitement when the band sent me the promo to my blog for their second-full length album “I I-Bleak .” So how does this album compare to their debut?  Even better!  They take their sound and push to further heights while also being more focused.  That’s a rare feat but they pull it off—the confidence they have on this album can easily be heard throughout. The most immediate upgrade is the production and mix.  While it still has a raw and destitute atmosphere, it just sounds better in terms of sonic dynamics.  It’s louder (but not overly) and the instruments sound more up front.  Overall, it just has a much more solid and dense sound, which the band has no issues thriving in. For those who are unfamiliar with the band’s overall sound, it’s rooted in stoner/psychedelic doom but it’s just more abrasive and heavier than many of the bands in this genre. ...

Phobocosm is a death metal band from Canada, who formed in 2008.  Their latest album, “ Gateway ,” is their fourth full-length album; they have also released an EP. I reviewed their previous album, “ Foreordained ,” when I wrote for Metal Temple and gave it much praise, commenting on its doomy, bleak atmosphere.  How does “ Gateway ” stack against it?  It’s even better–the band leans hard into every element that makes them so effective in the first place. The atmosphere is sinister as hell, drenched with a sickening feeling of dread.  But it doesn’t meander around, instead focusing on barreling forward with a surprising ferocity rather than focusing solely on downtrodden moods.  The guitar tone is exactly how death metal should sound:  encompassing and suffocating yet pure horror.  There was a time when death metal was really outside the norm and people were actually afraid to listen to it.  This album gives off those vibes tenfold— “ Gateway ” i...

Anthrodynia is a death/doom band from Canada, who formed in 2024; “ Unspeakable Horrors Emanating From Within ” is their full-length debut. It’s always impressive to me when a band forms and releases a banger of a full-length album not soon after.  Anthrodynia is one such band–they formed and a year later drop this massive slab of death/doom.  There were no prior EPs, singles, live albums, splits, or anything.  They just said, “Here take this,” and dropped it.   And it is a lot to handle.  Across five songs and a runtime of just over 38 minutes, “ Unspeakable Horrors ,” offers tumultuous extreme doom metal that has the pressure of the world’s oceans and the biting force of a megalodon. This is such a well-rounded album too, even for non-doomsters.  But its “short” runtime means that even those without a long attention span can find much enjoyment here.  Unlike many death/doom bands, they don’t lean too much into any one style.  There are pl...

Imperishable is a blackened death metal band based in South Carolina, who formed in 2020.  “ Revelation In Purity ,” is their debut full-length album.  I knew going in this would be a tight album, considering the pedigree of those involved.  Alex Rush ( Enthean , Olkoth ), Brian Kingsland ( Enthean , Nile ) and Derek Roddy ( Council of the Fallen , Khavar , ex- Hate Eternal , ex- Malevolent Creation ) are all involved.   “ Revelation In Purity ,” is an interesting album to me because it sounds pretty similar to what I imagined it might be.  After jamming it quite a bit, I have to say my original thoughts hold true but with the added bonus of the blackened elements which, while not unexpected, for some didn’t enter into my original thoughts as to what the band might conjure up.  The clean vocals were also not on my radar, although I have no complaints about their tasteful incorporation.  Although the members’ own bands have an obvious influenc...

Heteropsy is a Japanese death/doom band who formed in 2020.  After releasing four EPs and a split album, they are ready to drop their massive full-length debut album, “ Embalming .’  The band’s brand of extremity combines the classic HM-2 Finnish death metal sound with death/doom for a style their press release called “Mourning Death metal.”  Sure, why not?  Whatever you want to call it: this album is the balls.  The atmosphere is both suffocating and eerie; if I was alone in a cave and fell down a pit and broke both my legs and had nothing to eat but a peanut butter sandwich, this album would probably be playing in the background.  Until my phone went dead, then I would also die. Anyway, “ Embalming ,” has a unique flavor to it at times.  The first song, “ The Dawning ,” has a killer solo and galloping riffs, sounding like an extreme version of NWOBHM but ends with crashing drums and doomy riffs as it fades into the first full-length song, “ Pandemon...

Suffering is a black/doom metal band from United Kingdom who formed in 2012. “ Things Seen but Always Hidden ,” is their second full-length album; they have also released two EPs. Blackened Doom is always a treat to my ears—the downtrodden nature of extreme doom pairs perfectly (or is that imperfectly?) with the natural misanthropic of black metal. Suffering 's brand is quite convincing due in large part to not being afraid of switching the tempo up past what doom normally wrestles with but, at the same time, they are never more convincing than when they slow it down to a dismal crawl to let their horrific brand of misery get really dirty. The production is exactly what I want for music of this type: not truly raw but definitely gritty and cold as the grave. But the mix is on point too. Check out the opening moments of “ The House with the Red Door .” The clean toned ebb and flow with a bottomless depth that is just as stark as the metal passages. The band doesn't mind lett...

When Nothing Remains is a death/doom band from Sweden who formed in 2010. They had a hiatus in 2019 but returned to the scene in 2021. I first fell in love with the Gothic death/doom side of the genre when I discovered bands like My Dying Bride , Tristania , Theatre of Tragedy and Draconian 20 years ago. Having elements of these bands, When Nothing Remains intrigued me when I discovered them with their third album, “ In Memoriam .” I’m very glad they are back! The fourth full-length album from Sweden's When Nothing Remains called “ Echoes of Eternal Night ,” is a modern day version of those legendary bands and albums of yester year. If every album was this good, the world might actually be worth two shits in a bucket.  Every element is on point across the album's four song, 41 minute runtime. The compositions don't flow around any certain element but instead swirl together as one massive sound. But it doesn't sound like any impenetrable wall but instead a flowi...

Humanity Zero is a doom/death metal band from Greece, who formed in 2003. Their latest album, “ Cursed Be the Gift of Life ,” is their sixth full-length album; they have also released two demos and an EP. This is my first experience with them—and I’m blown away. I mean, I shouldn’t be surprised—they are Greek. Although doom isn’t the first genre I think of when it comes to Greece, this is yet another album worthy of the immortal Greek metal scene, regardless of subgenre. The vocals on this album are insane—growls straight from the gut with a razor sharp edge to them. They are huge, scary and backed with raw emotion. With that being said, they don't overtake the music—the stellar production and mix keeps everything even and on the same playing field. The result is “Cursed Be the Gift of Life ,” sounding monolithic and encompassing.  Interestingly, the album isn't overly long–its five songs have a total runtime of about 45 minutes. That may seem short for doom but it makes...