Doomed For Metal Reviews

Silent Deep Ocean is a funeral doom solo band/project from musician Gregory Ritchey , who also helms the projects Abyssal Liturgy and his solo material under his name.  “ Essence of Existence II:  The Blood of Ghosts ,” is Silent Deep Ocean’s 7th full-length album.   Combining metal with symphonic textures or orchestral arrangements isn't anything new in metal but “ Essence of Existence II: The Blood of Ghosts ” successfully pairs the two seemingly desperate styles together better than most albums I've heard this year so far. It works so well because the orchestration matches the tone and atmosphere of the doom. None of the arrangements are bombastic or shoved out in front. They don't steal the limelight but instead act as another instrument to make the songs really shine.  On the other side of the music, the doom is a slow grind of death growls and riffs that feel like lead raining down from the skies. Even then, the funeral doom doesn't overtake its symphon...

Desolate Pathway is an epic doom metal band from London, England who formed in 2014.  Their latest release, “ Visions In Death ,” is their third full-length album.   The band started out as a four-piece founded by former Pagan Altar guitarist Vinny Konrad.  It seems they are down to two members, making this album the work of duo Maz Magzilla (songwriting) and Vinny Konrad (all instruments, apparently).  “ Visions in Death ,” is a wonderful album with many faucets to it.  Much do in part because of the absolutely insane vocals.  I say insane because Vinny covers a wide range of emotions, much like the music does.  The whole album has a hellish, bleak atmosphere yet the vocals sound like a deadly sermon being served from atop a mountain.   However, with that being said, they do have a certain actorly way to them and can also drip a lot of venom.  Much can be said of the music, but the many kick ass guitar solos can also be quite beaut...

Equisetum is a doom metal band from Italy, who formed in 2025.  “ Cor Ex Putredine ,” is their full-length album.  This is definitely one of the best surprises I’ve heard in this second half of the year.  There isn’t an EP, demo or anything…just a band that formed a year ago and dropping this monumental album. It goes through a myriad of different styles of doom.  From traditional, Gothic, to even some of the more extreme forms.  “ Cor Ex Putredine ,” is a dynamic offering and fortunately its two members have the chops to pull it off.  Vocalist Noctuaria ( Nebrus , Urticant ) and multi-instrumentalist Mortifero ( Ad Omega , Nebrus , Urticant , Nott ) are each master of their respective craft—-I mean, they really dropped a stunning debut album here. The production is awesome.  It's a very balanced approach to the style; its low end is there in a big way but it doesn’t sound like it's going to bust open my speakers, nor does it cover up the riffs. ...

Oath is a doom metal band from Greece that formed in 2021.  Their latest release, “ Unteach ,” is their debut full-length; they have also released an EP. Unless you have been living under a rock, everyone knows the Greek metal scene is the stuff of legends particularly for black metal but, generally speaking, it offers a lot to the underground across many genres.   With that being said, I believe Oath is the first traditional style doom metal band I’ve heard from the country. And, of course, this band and their album “ Unteach ,” is fantastic.  Whatever is in the water in Greece apparently bolsters up doom metal as much as it does black and death metal. “ Unteach ,” is an album that wears its influences on its sleeves, and it would be a waste of time to mention them.   I will say beyond those obvious influences, they do remind me of The Sword (when they were good) a bit so maybe they might be a more modern influence.  But what isn’t a waste of time is how many r...

Mama Doom is a doom metal band from Poughkeepsie, New York who changed to their current moniker in 2015 though actually formed in 2006 as The Gentling before changing to Deadtriss for a bit.  Their latest album, “ Eminent Womb ,” is their third full-length album, in addition to two EPs. As The Gentling, they released one full-length and under the Deadtriss name they released an EP.  This is my first experience with the band but “Eminent Womb,” has really resonated with me.   They don’t have a guitarist, but it doesn’t hurt their heavy factor at all—the bass is more than crushing enough - Chuckie Rumbles is a goddamn beast and his name fits him well.  According to Metallum, he is married to the band’s vocalist/keyboardist D.Lolli .  A married couple that plays doom?  How cool is that?  I’ll tell you: very cool.   Lolli’s vocals are among the best vocals I’ve heard this year.  She sings her ass off on this record, providing a dark but ex...

Filth is a death metal band from Sweden, who formed in 2022.  Their latest album, “ Death Exhibition ,” is their second full-length release; they have also released a demo.   This Is some nasty death metal. Sometimes I feel like death metal is too overproduced, especially with the more modern bands. But “ Death Exhibition ,” is a rawer approach that sounds like it was mastered in a studio covered in a decayed soupy mix of racial swamp waters and blood. The tone on the instruments live through this sound, casting out filthy riffs, drumming passages of nightmarish might and bass that might be a demon. Speaking of the bass: the production may be raw, but the mix is on point and the bass barrels through it for one of the heavier low end sounds I've heard so far this year. Much like Incantation or Autopsy, Filth isn't afraid to add a hefty amount of doom metal to its more aggressive side.  The slower parts are really powerful and showcase just how extreme this band can ge...

Wharflurch is a death/doom metal band from Gainesville, Florida, United States who formed in 2019.  “ Mycodeath and Rebirth in the Outer Clusters ,” is their second full-length album; they have also released numerous EPs, splits, demos and compilations.  I haven’t reviewed them before, but I’ve been listening to the band for a hot minute now and they are definitely one of the more unique and interesting bands in the death/doom/whatever scene.  As with their previous releases, “ Mycodeath and Rebirth… ” is laced with psychedelic elements and passages of pure mind-fuckery.  Their sound is equally rooted in death and doom, the band using various tempos and a dual vocal approach to give their sound way more variety and dynamics than many others in the genre. This album really is an experience unto itself.  Sure, every song is a banger and there isn’t one bad song, but it’s better served taking this as a whole because its trippy tendencies will make you think as mu...

Theosophy is a black metal band from Russia, who formed in 2004.  Their latest album, “ Line Before the Event Horizon ,” is their seventh full-length album; they have also released a demo, a split, a live album and a compilation.  They have put out a lot of music, but I’ve never heard of them before—that shows the depth of the metal world that someone like me, who has been a metal fan for 25 years, is still coming across well-established bands that were previously known to them.  The opening seconds of “ Path to the Void ,” definitely hit me like the North winds.  This song is cold, searing, and 100% against the grain.  This is a fantastic way to start the album because it is, in a way, refreshing.  I listen to (and review) a lot of black metal and although I love the dynamics the genre now offers, sometimes I just want something frozen and evil.  That’s exactly what this song gives me. With that being said, it still offers plenty of atmosphere and som...

The Medea Project is a doom metal band with origins from South Africa, although according to their Metallum page, they are now based in England.  Their latest album, “ Kharon :  Forbearance ,” is their third full-length album; they have also released five EPs.   I’ve reviewed the band’s previous two full lengths but skipped their “ Akkadian Artefacts ” EP that was released early this year.  No offense to the band but dark ambient/electronica just isn’t my thing.  However, “ Kharon: Forbearance ” is definitely something that is in my wheelhouse. This is a unique album because it’s the companion release to their previous full-length album from 2025, “ Kharon .”    This album is the raw, unpolished version of the aforementioned release, featuring early demos and rehearsal tracks from the recording sessions.  The Medea Project has always been pretty raw but this pushes the band’s sound to nightmarish, oppressive levels. Honestly, “ Kharon: ...

Ristridi is a metal band from Germany, who formed in 2023.  Their latest release, “ Ride the Storm ,” is their full-length debut but they have previously released an EP and a compilation/covers album.   It’s actually a one-man band, from musician Michael Wöß (Omega Point, Sektor) who handles all the instruments.  Guest/session members Alex " Ax " Meyer and Andreas " Anti " Schätz handle the harsh and clean vocals, respectfully. Their sound combines power metal with elements of melodic death, particularly in the vocals.  As expected, “ Ride the Storm ,” is a high-octane album with energy that is full to bursting.  The album is 8 tracks across a runtime of just over 32 minutes so it’s a quick ride and doesn't waste any time from song to song.  No intros, outros, or interludes…just a band throwing out eight bangers and it works wonders for them. There isn’t one song on here that isn’t catchy or filled with vibrant melodies and malicious speed.  Whet...

Hexecutioner is a doom/stoner/sludge metal band from Seattle that formed in 2020. Their latest release, “ Ascension Rock ,” is their third full-length album; they have also released a demo. I gave a lot of deserved praise to their previous full-length album, " Tornit " last year.  So, what's changed with their latest musical bomb of doom?  Does " Ascension Rock ," find the band turning into atmospheric electronica polka?  It's going to be a hell no, dawg.  Once again, and thankfully so, Hexecutioner have brought the hammer of doom down upon us all.  Except this time, it's more than one hammer.  It's a lot of hammers.  Ok, so all the hammers.  There are some changes though.  Vocalist/Guitarist  Erin Gravina played bass on the prior releases but this time  Daniel McManus handles the low-end axe---and he brings a devastating dimension to the album.  Alongside drummer,  Bryce Hebner , these three musicians have created an ...

Exitium Sui is a one-man blackened doom metal band Germany, who formed in 2020 but has now reloaded to Australia. The musician behind the project is E.S., also from Deadspace , Humanitas Error E st (among others).  The latest album, “ Unravelling ,” is the band’s/project’s third full length (if you count the expanded edition of “Endless” as a full-length). I didn’t review it, but I enjoyed the previous release, “ Endless / Regression ,” but “ Unravelling ,” is on another level entirely.  This album is a decayed beauty piece of art that matches misanthropic black metal with despondent doom….while also being moving and beautiful, albeit in a twisted, broken way.  Anyone who isn’t a metalhead, specifically one that loves underground metal, would find this to be raw, archaic noise but those who know, know.  There are subtleties to this album that make it hard to not want to listen to it.  In between the darkness, between the shadows that seem to swallow the light, ...

Ænigmatum is a death metal band from Portland, Oregon who formed in 2017.  Their latest album, “ Infinitude’s Passage ,” is their third full-length; they have also released two demos. I reviewed their previous album, “ Deconsecrate ,” for Metal Temple five years ago and haven’t been wondering what happened to the band.  Then suddenly, they drop this harrowing slab of death metal called “Infinitude’s Passage” without warning. This album is non-linear—if you are looking for something that is verse-chorus-verse then “ Infinitude’s Passage ,” may not be the album for you.  It’s bold, adventurous, and has many sharp turns around its corners among a world that’s stuffed with all kinds of things within its seamlessly endless corridors.   Despite their tech/prog path, “ Infinitude’s Passage ,” is an album that is also focused.  Despite how wild their music can get, the band doesn’t forget that, at the core, they are a death metal.  As such, this album has a r...