Doomcult - Sacrifice All Life

 Doomcult is a doom metal band from the Netherlands, who formed in 2014.  Their latest album, “Sacrifice All Life,” is their fourth full-length album; they have also released two EPs and two splits.

Taking their moniker into account, I figured I would be getting dark and hopeless doom, with a dash of darker and hopelessness on the side.  I figured right.  Doomcult’s brand of low-end monstrosities on “Sacrifice All Life,” is bleak and moody as hell.  The album has plenty of atmosphere and melody but it’s a more subtle approach, accenting the crushing music rather than taking away from.

“Sarifice All Life,” is very much riff and rhythm based, the songs change tempo here and there—low and slow to mid-paced gallops and groove.  The band definitely has a knack for when to keep it slow, deep and hard and when to kick up the tempo a bit to let the riffs really throw down. 

Vocally, it’s (very) deep death growls and some kind of thrash-style clean-ish yell.  The yells add an uncanny energy to the songs while the growls keep everything firmly planted in the most disgusting pit of doom.  I like how methodical the songs are, a lot of care was placed on the songwriting process, and it shows.  The songs are very good at showcasing a steady buildup of energy, a rising action that always has a payoff.

The first song, “Necromancer,” gets the blood pumping early with immediate riffs that set off the growls.  The drumming is fantastic, hypnotic and full of a keen sense on how to give the songs what they need, when they need it.  During the more atmospheric parts of the song, the bass keeps that low end going–the band never let's go of their heavy layers.

The centerpiece of the album is the 15-minute song “Sacrifice.”  I really like its placement in the track listing, it just feels right.  I also like the tone of the guitars, especially in the opening.  These groovy riffs also sound horrific and ominous, the trepidation seeping out of every note. This song uses liminal spaces very well, making the song breathe in and out like it's a living beast.  The mid-section is extremely engaging, especially the melodic bass and lead guitar.  The burst of speed that comes afterwards is a great hook to bring the listener back into the heavier passages.

After pulling off an epic piece, they go for a somber approach with one of my favorites on the album, “Poison the Well.”  The guitar harmonies are catchy as hell, while the rhythm section keeps the energy flowing as the band settles into a passage with slow, chunky, gallops.  The song steadily gets more intense but retains an icy grip on the song’s cold atmosphere.  Some of the riffs sound Gothic and it’s a nice touch to bring out the natural aura of the song. 

“Angel,” is the final song and indeed has an air of finality about it.  If the preceding songs were the chaos and carnage, then this song is definitely the end.  The melancholic opening could be the soundtrack for the apocalypse.  The slow grooves are killer, stretching out the endtime signals of the song through passage of quick, heavy riffs and bass that go from crushing to melodic, servicing the needs of the song as it ebbs and flows between moments of destitution and pure fire. 

Doomcult’s “Sacrifice All Life,” is an interesting album because it makes such profane and despondent music also very engaging.  It’s a very balanced album that has a dense sound that’s also open, creating songs that are at once both crushing and atmospheric.  

Rating: Great