Godthrymm - Projections

Godthrymm is a doom metal band from the United Kingdom, that formed in 2017; their latest album, “Projections,” is their third full-length full album; they have also released four EPs.  The band was formed by Hamish Glencross, who was in My Dying Bride and released quite a few really good albums with them.  Oh, and former Bride drummer Shaun Taylor-Steels is also a member.  Cool, huh? 

So yeah, the man has immense talent.  But, for whatever reason, I’ve never been a huge fan of this band.  Why?  I can’t say for sure.  Sometimes music just doesn't stick for some ineffable reason.  

All that has changed with the release of their new album, “Projections.”  Hamish and co have finally grabbed me—and aren’t letting go.  The songwriting chops on this album, and the musicianship that allows us to hear it, is pure energy and fire.

“Projections” dips into various styles of the doom genre, oftentimes sounding quite Gothic, particularly when Hamish’s wife and band keyboardist, Catherine, offers up her ridiculously strong vocals.  Hamish himself isn’t a slouch in the vocal department either, projecting an expressive clean voice that has just enough edge.  His moments feel less Gothic and more traditional doom but that’s okay because I like the changing dynamics brought on by the two different vocal styles.

Above all, this album is chock full of heavy ass riffs and has a crushing tone that seems to crush for miles deep.  There are plenty of melodic moments as well, the band shifting between faster paced moments and sad boi Gothic doom with ease and always being coherent. 

“Trenches Deep,” opens the song with a powerful show—super, super intense with a ton of riffs while still including keys and vocal layers that recall the days of My Dying Bride, without sounding too on the nose for that.  The passage on this song after the 4-minute mark is like an audio form of an earthquake.  There are also a couple of moments across the song where the band speeds up so quickly that it becomes a bit of a thrash fest.  No complaints—why can’t thrash and doom mix? 

“Endure My Skin,” is basically a reunion of former MDB members, as Aaron (I wish all parties in involved the best of luck but is so fucking weird to write about him as a FORMER member of My Dying Bride) guest vocals on this song.  The song itself is fantastic: slow, melodic, somber, and fluid with its macabre emotions.  For his part, Aaron does a fantastic job—his growls sound as great as ever too.  Throw in a killer solo and an ending that sounds like the fall of mountains, then what we have here is one of the band’s best songs.

“Hope Eternal,” is my favorite song on the album and a stellar way to end it.  The guitar solos have a bit of a psychedelic flavor, and the powerful drums create an atmosphere that is just as wide as the universe.  Catherine’s vocals go so well with the tone of the riffs—nothing better than lithe, clean vocals being backed up by heavy as hell metal.

The burst of speed in the mid-section is highlighted by keys—a nice touch, combining the jagged and delicate.  This section naturally births another guitar solo; everything the band does on the album works amazingly well for the big picture even while the individual elements are standout on their own.

Godthrymm is sure to gain a bigger fanbase with this album, and they are doing it without selling out or compromising.  Instead, they are just right honest to god great music that clearly comes from a place of love and inspiration for the scene.  I think the band will only continue to impress from here.  “Projections,” is a good place to start for fans completely new to the band and for people, such as myself, who were lukewarm at first. 

Rating:  Great