Doomed For Metal Reviews

Shores Of Null is a melodic death/doom band from Rome, Italy. They formed in 2013 and 'The Loss of Beauty' is their fourth full length album.  This album was actually recorded back when their previous album, ‘Beyond The Shores (On Death And Dying)', was recorded between 2019 and 2020.  It was initially going to be their third full length but 'Beyond…' was chosen to be released first, as it better reflected the trying times of the pandemic. 'The Loss of Beauty' brings the band back to offering individuals songs and is much more melodic and dynamic than 'Beyond..' but the same melancholic sorrow still defines their sound. The instrumental portion of the songs find that sweet spot between downtrodden doom and mid paced melodeath.  But sprinkled throughout the album are blackened elements and it gives the music just the right amount of edge.  The drums and bass are one hell of foundation. They know exactly when to take a more melodic approach or take agg...

MESMUR is a funeral doom band, of international origins, that formed in 2013. Their latest album, 'Chthonic' is their fourth full length album. The bookend tracks are fine on their own if listening to the album straight through (which is recommended)  but as a piecemeal basis, they aren't the meat and potatoes like the three tracks in between. With that being said, 'Chthonic (Prelude)' is a decent intro that flows into the first proper track without missing a beat. The outro 'Chthonic (Coda)’ flows out from the previous track just as well and serves as a more introspective respite from the doom carnage that precedes it. 'Refraction,' begins with the barest of morose melodies just touching upon the incredible heaviness that are the guitars. The track is slow moving and never gets any faster—which is great. This song, and album as a whole, is almost like a love letter to funeral doom because everything about the genre is done incredibly well. This is good ...

WOE UNTO ME is a doom metal band from Belarus who formed in 2007. 'Along the Meandering Ordeals, Reshape the Pivot of Harmony' is their third full length album. I suppose the best sub genre to put them into would be funeral doom. However, I don't think calling them gives the full idea of what they truly bring to the table for doom. Although no doubt a dark, heavy and depressing band, their sound is much more expansive and varied  than the average funeral doom band. In some ways, their sound is progressive in how far they are willing to stretch themselves. 'Along…' is all doom and gloom but it isn't all cavernous—the album has an open sound that is very exploratory without forgetting the roots of the genre. The album opens with 'Mired Down in the Innermost Thicket," and it is a solid indicator of the album's overall style and vibe. As expected it is a slow build up that features spoken word as the song gets more loud as the minutes tick by. Soon, dee...

Insomnium doesn't need an introduction but for those living under a rock, they are a Finnish melodic death metal band who formed way back in 1997.  But Insomnium have never been of the "Gothenburg" style of the genre. Their music eschews jaunty harmonies and melody for downtrodden epics that have much in common with doom metal. There is no doubt that as the years go by, their music gets darker and darker. 'Anno 1696' takes that notion to the next level. Anno 1696' is a concept album set in a period of one  Finland's more dark eras. It was a time of famine, cannibalism, and witch hunts. As far as the particular details and characters in the story, I couldn't tell you. I know it's blasphemy, but I never follow concept album stories nor do I care to do so. I'm here for the music and song writing. And both these elements are in top tier form on Insomnium's 9th studio album.  The atmosphere of this album is so defeated, bleak, and hopeless that ...

LUMEN AD MORTEM is a black metal band from Australia that formed in 2019. “Upon The Edge Of Darkness,” is their full length debut; they released a demo in 2019. Considering how young this band is, “Upon The Edge Of Darkness,” is an unusually strong debut. However, that may not be apparent upon first listen–this is an album that will require many listens. I don’t mean that as “I first heard this and didn’t like it but eventually I warmed up to it.” No, this album was solid from the beginning. What I mean is there is a lot to unpack here; the album reveals itself to have a refreshing sound that covers a lot of ground and includes many elements that tie together extremely well. The album length is around forty one minutes, which I find to be the sweet spot for many albums. However with only six songs, all of them except one are above six minutes—plenty of time for these songs to work their magic. So what is the magic, what makes the album so special? The atmosphere leaves a lasti...

VAHRZAW is an Australian extreme metal band who formed in 1994 under the name Necromancy. They underwent several more name changes before landing on their current moniker. "In The Shallows of a Starlit Lake," is their fifth full length album. In addition, they have released two demos, two splits and three EPs. The only other album of theirs I have heard so far is their previous album, "The Trembling Voices of Conquered Men."That particular album was solid but a bit too short and the bookend tracks were just filler. However, this new album feels like a much more complete package. Whereas they were doing a weighty combination of death and black metal, this album definitely leans towards black metal. Honestly, I think it works much better for them. The production, which is both crusty and atmospheric, fits the blackened approach like a glove too. The keys are noteworthy. Sometimes they are subtle, other time they are not. But they are never overbearing but are alway...

MISANTHROPIK TORMENT is an extreme metal band from Lexington, KY. Their sound is a filthy representation of black, death and thrash—-it all comes together seamlessly for a true visceral vision of contempt for all things wrong with life. There isn't anything shy about their music–nothing is held back and it is all rise. The lyrics are of a similar nature, confronting the evil in the world, screaming out against the very tyranny that makes Earth nothing more than a big ball of shit. Extreme subject matter begs for extreme music. This album is short and to the point–it does what it needs to and then leaves behind broken bodies. Some might want more ‘meat and potatoes’ to their music but this style doesn’t need an hour and a half album with crazy interludes and thirteen minute long songs. It wouldn't be a complete package without vocals to match this thinking man's insanity. Erik Leviathan's vocals consist of low growls, screams, blackened snarls, and gurgling burps.....