Doomed For Metal Reviews

Abysmal Growls of Despair is a one-man funeral doom metal band from France that formed in 2014; musician Hangsvart is the mastermind behind the project.  This latest release, “ Torn ,” is his 28th full-length album, among numerous EP’s and splits!  While I do have the second full-length album, “ Dark Days ,” I wasn’t aware there were so many others.  I definitely have some listening to do!  According to the Bandcamp page, “ Torn ,” is an album that explores ‘the emotional landscape of a husband caring for his wife battling cancer.  It is a testament to love and resilience.”   I’m not sure if the husband is Hangsvart , the album was written for a personal acquaintance, or if it's just a story created for the album.  Regardless, this is definitely a very emotional experience.  I like the idea that the album doesn’t necessarily focus only on the despair and hopelessness that cancer so obviously brings but rather the human spirit that can still thriv...

Soothsayer is an atmospheric doom metal band from Ireland who formed in 2013.  Their latest release, “ The Unbinding ,” is their second-full length album; they have also released two EPs, a split, and a live album.  It has been five long years since I reviewed the previous Soothsayer album, “ Echoes of the Earth ,” when I worked for Metal Temple.  It’s pretty cool, and exciting, that I get to review the next full-length album, “ The Unbinding .”   So, what has happened in five years?  Do we get the same Soothsayer ?  A different one?  Worse or better?  Honestly, in my humble opinion, “ The Unbinding ,” blows the previous album away (which says a lot).  There is less abrasive sludge on this album—the band is leaning more into extreme, ultra heavy doom a lot more.  For me, there is nothing better.  And it’s my review so let me have this win and celebrate with the band. It’s also much more cohesive, focused with elements of black...

Tomb Slab is a doom/sludge band from Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England that formed in 2013; their self-titled album is their debut full-length.  And what a debut it is!  This is caustic, extreme doom/sludge that is easily one of the heaviest, most uncompromising albums I’ve heard in July.  Just think about a brutal band you like and then multiply it by 10.  That’s the world where Tomb Slab not only lives but thrives.  The vocals are devastating, a sort of death/blackened scream that rattles the bones.  The music is equally as filthy—gargantuan riffs that have the atmosphere of doom but the tone of hell itself, a sludge performance dredged up from one of its circles.  No question: if you like riffs, then this album is your god. The band’s name is perfect because each song is like a slab of death that batters and breaks the senses. The album consists of six songs and a very tight runtime of just under 31 minutes.  The band wastes no time with th...

Gods & Punks is a Brazilian Doom/Stoner/Sludge band who formed in 2013.  Their latest release, “ A Shrine by the Sea ,” is their sixth full-length album; they have also released six EPs and a live album. One of those EPs, “ Holograms ,” I didn’t even know existed, so I missed that one—however, I did review the band’s previous full-length album, “Death,” and gave it worthy praise.  How does “ A Shrine by the Sea ,” compare?  It’s even better! The song consists of two songs that have a runtime each of 21 minutes and 12 seconds.  I’m not sure if all versions are like this but my promo copy also came with each of the songs broken up into individual tracks.  I’m a huge fan of long songs so for me personally, I chose to listen to the full compositions rather than on an individual song basis. It amounts to the same thing, but I like to listen to albums from beginning to end, especially if I’m going to be writing a review. Your preference may be different for how y...

Temple ov Ahriman is a one-man black metal band from Austin, Texas.  Musician Thornicator ( Triacanthos , ex- Brüka , ex- Vesperian Sorrow ) formed the band in 2021.  After a split release in 2022, the project is now ready to unveil its full-length debut album, “ Heretics of Consensual Reality, ” with the help of session drummer Servitor. “ Heretics of Consensual Reality ,” may have its basis in the second wave of black metal but the album has a sound all its own.  Crust/d-beat and Finnish influences mix seamlessly with the project’s brand of black metal for an album that has a fresh, exciting sound and is a lot more dynamic than I thought it would be. The atmosphere is cold and ancient, like black metal should be, but the production has a surprisingly warm sound.  I think it works pretty well as it allows the band to show all its various moods and variety.  The album has a ton of groove and a punk rock swagger but also a vicious sense of what the essence of ...

Véhémence is a black metal band from France, who formed in 2014.  Their latest album, “ Assiégé pour l'éternité ,” is their fourth full-length album.  With that being said, this is a reimagining of their debut album, “ Assiégé .”  But this is more than a simple remaster.  The band re-recorded the album from the ground up; considering longtime vocalist Hyvermor wasn’t on the original recording, this version automatically sounds different. I’ll be completely honest here:  although I’m familiar with the band, I never listened to their debut but I did briefly (very) give it a listen when I got the promo for this album.  Even without spending much time with the debut, I can safely say this new version sounds different enough that it is pretty much like a new album.  The band’s signature style of “medieval black metal,” including medieval themes and folk textures.  Despite these inclusions, I wouldn’t call this folk metal or even blackened folk. ...

  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-is...

Tort is a death/doom/sludge band from Spain, who formed in 2009.  Their latest album, “ Dimonis de la Sauva Negra ,” is their fourth full-length album; they have also released an EP. This is my first experience with the band but with supreme ultimate confidence I can say “ Dimonis de la Sauva Negra ,” is the balls.   Is that good?  Very good.  Google it if you don’t believe me.  Actually, don’t google balls.   Tort has crafted one of the more brutal albums this year.  The vocals are absolutely unnatural and offensive in the best way possible.  Deep, filled with gravel, blood, spit and whatever else you want to describe here, these death growls will scare your child and/or pet.  The atmosphere matches the vocals:  terrifying, bleak, and without a moment of safety to be found.   Instrumentally, the music grinds doom, sludge, and death metal into puree chat pulp of all things sickening.  The band reforms it and release i...

  Iron Slaught is a heavy metal band from France who formed in 2011.  Their latest release, “ Metallic Torments ,” is their second full-length album.  I’ll admit that when I see the words “heavy metal” “traditional metal” or any combination therefore in a promo copy I’m sent, it makes me apprehensive.  I, of course, don’t have anything against the more old-school/traditional side of the genre, but I’d say 90% of anything with that label or tag doesn’t excite me.  However, the kick-ass artwork on this album made me check out the music.  In essence, I came for the cover art but stayed for equally kick-ass music. Iron Slaught definitely have an old-school notion about them, but I’ll be damned this album isn’t a non-stop banger.  Everything about this is pure energetic fury:  the riffs, the vocals, the tempo….the band burns through the songs like it's the last thing they will ever do, and it translates amazingly well.  The production captures t...

Desiccation is a blackened doom metal band based in Nevada City/Sacramento, California and formed in 2020.  Their latest release, “ Legatum Mortuorum ,” is their second full-length album.  It isn't often that I hear music that legitimately sounds frightening. Desiccation's “ Legatum Mortuorum ” is an album that truly sounds horrifying. This is definitely the type of underground metal that embraces the days of old where the genre, specifically black metal and other extreme forms, actually felt a little dangerous.  If I went back in time to the wrong period, “ Legatum Mortuorum ,” would get me killed in any number of ways. If you're not listening to music that could get you burned at the stake, then what the hell are you even listening to?   This album recalls the days when listening to extreme, underground metal felt like a mystical, unnerving thing to do and other people didn’t, or couldn’t, understand.  The music of “ Legatum Mortuorum ,” is pure darkness....

Loneshore is a metal band from Rio de Janeiro, who formed in 2014.  Their latest release, “ Nothing Left to Deconstruct ,” is their second full-length album.  Prior to receiving this promo, I had heard of the band, not their music.   I didn’t have time to explore their debut album, so I don’t have a frame of reference; however, “Nothing Left to Deconstruct,” has made an impression on me. In my research of the band, I came across some mentioning they sound like Opeth .  I’m not really hearing that.  Sure, they have similar dynamics such as switching between light and dark elements using a progressive slant, but a lot of bands do the same.  Personally, I find them somewhat hard to describe.  Metallum list them as melodic progressive death/doom metal—sure, that works but, at least to me, they have their own sound that doesn’t really fit into a certain category  I’m impressed about how methodical and forward thinking this album is.  With 7 songs ...

Urzah is a metal band from Bristol, England who formed in 2019. Their latest album, " A Tranquil Void,' is their second full-length album; they have also released two EPs. Urzah 's “ A Tranquil Void ,” does so many things and gets every one of them right. Doom, sludge, post and prog are the sounds that will be experienced in this album. And what an album this is.  It is emotional, expansive and even catchy at times.  Music that hits hard but always has a depth bubbling underneath the surface that can be explored.  “ A Tranquil Void ,” is arranged incredibly well. Each song is placed in its sequence exactly where it needs to be. As a result, every song compliments the one before and after it, while also serving the album as a whole. The two best examples of what I mean by this are the opening song “ At the Mouth of the Cave ,” and “ Bark and Branches .” The former feels like both a full-length song and an intro. Experienced on its own, it is a great song. Its razor-sharp...

 In A Forest Dark is a one-man Gothic blackened death/doom metal band from Portugal, who formed in 2002; musician Mário Pereira (also in the band Eternal Mourning ) handles all vocals and instruments.  This latest album, “ To A God Unknown ,” is the project’s fourth full-length album. Apparently, this album is inspired by the book of the same name from author John Steinback .  I’m unfamiliar with this novel so if there is anything lyrically, or musically, in reference to the story, then I just lack the frame of reference to catch it.  But it’s worth noting, regardless of my own failings in this area, for any doom fans who also might be fans of the book.   I may not know the book, but I know my metal in general and doom in particular.  “ To A God Unknown ,” is a worthy entry into the genre’s pantheon and one of my favorites in what is now the second half of the year.   “ To a God Unknown ,” consists of 7 dark dirges of poetry across a r...