Doomed For Metal Reviews

200 Stab Wounds is a death metal band from Cleveland, Ohio who formed in 2019. “ Manual Manic Procedures ,” is their second full-length album, in addition to also having an EP.  As if they hadn't already proved it with their debut album, 200 Stab Wound s definitely make a firm statement for their place in the pantheon of modern death metal with “ Manual Manic Procedures .” This album manages to do what many albums cannot, especially those facing the possibility of folding under the pressure of the so-called dreaded “sophomore slump,” which is to keep the sound of prior releases intact while managing to expand those ideas in a natural way. This album adds in a hefty load of what I’ll call atmosphere although the ideas of old school brutality don’t let it become actual atmospheric death metal, per say.   For example, the long intro led by clean tones opens the song “ Hands Of Eternity .”  It stretches their sound to a new field of vision yet it feels familiar all at o...

The Eternal is an Australian based metal band who formed in 1993 as Cryptal Darkness before establishing their current moniker in 2003.  “ Skinwalker ” is their six full-length album (and first in six years), in addition to having released one demo, two live albums, and an EP.   Despite their long history, I have never heard of them before this release.  That is no offense to them of course but a testament to how many bands actually exist.  Too much music, too little time I suppose.   What caught my attention of the promo is this particular album introduces Amorphis drummer Jan Recherger and former Amorphis bassist Niclas Etelävuori to the band.  I can’t ignore talent like that, especially when Amorphis is counted among my very favorite bands.  While it doesn’t sound like Amorphis (nor did I expect it to), this album does share that band’s penchant for adventurous songwriting with some progressive flavors. However, “ Skinwalker ” is also ...

Meltem is a psychedelic doom metal band from Spain who formed in 2019.  They released their first demo in 2022.  Just a couple years later and they have graced us with a staggering mind trip in the form of a full-length musical opus called “ Mare Nostrum .”  “ Mare Nostrum ,” is an album that has a huge sound that is filled to the brim with dynamics and many layers.  The overall sound of the album is definitely rooted in both 70’s rock and stoner doom but it has a very healthy dose of Middle Eastern music to it as well.   If the combinations of all those elements and styles sound like it might be unique and adventurous, that’s because it is.  The atmosphere has a warm, fluid sound that covers the music like a gentle breeze.  With that being said, it has more than enough moments of pure raw aggressive heaviness that reveals a certain danger inside the many details and intricacies of their music.  Consisting of four tracks and a runtime of 41 m...

Grim Colossus is a one-man ( Magnus Berglind )  doom metal project from Sweden, who released their debut EP “ Where Shadows Dwell ,” in 2022.  Flash forward a couple years and they have dropped their full-length debut “ Descent Into Madness .”    From my understanding, the album tells a story of a man who, after diving into the occult, becomes haunted by nightmares and visions.   The atmosphere of the music definitely goes alongside the story, offering a grim and horror filled experience.  The production is fitting as well, just raw enough to add girth and grit. Despite the subject matter, this is not extreme doom.  Instead, the experience is told in a much more traditional style of doom.  Comparisons to Candlemass would not be wrong but I find this to be darker and more melancholic than a lot of other bands who try the old school doom worship.  This is doom just how it should be played:  low, slow, and full of despair.  With...

Vexing Hex is one of the more unique bands I have heard recently.  It’s hard to pigeonhole their sound because they change genres like most people (hopefully) change their underwear.  As a whole, I would say it is occult rock but it’s also so much more.   Elements of punk, doom, pop, stoner, traditional metal are intertwined into their song structures.  Throw in some prog, grunge, a hefty dose of the 80’s, and even some thrash…and you might have a good idea as to what they sound like. Ultimately, however, Vexing Hex  prove with “ Solve Et Coagula ” they don’t sound like anyone but themselves.   This might sound crazy but if I were to describe their sound, and this album, with one word it would be:  Halloween.  This is the soundtrack to a crisp, cool Autumn night.  Through my internet travels, I have seen a lot of comparisons to Ghost but I honestly don’t think they sound all that similar and “ Solve Et Coagula ” is better than any...

Kvaen is a one-man black metal band from Swedish musician Jacob Björnfot (ex- The Duskfall , Autumn Death ) that formed in 2019.  “ The Formless Fires ” is Kvaen’ s third full-length album, having also released a split in 2021. I’ve been following them since the beginning and if “ The Formless Fires, ” is any indication, Kvaen is going to turn into one of the most consistent projects in the scene.   The album’s production is impeccable—both dynamic and vibrant to bring out the album’s intricacies and details.  It’s much cleaner than a lot of black metal but, while that might be a problem for some, it doesn’t take away from their raw energy and powerful songwriting.   Each song is chock full of blistering solos, harmonies, melodies…everything you could ever want in melodic black has been incorporated into the 8 song, 39 minute runtime.  Sure, it has all been heard before, but with songwriting this sharp, it just doesn’t matter.  At the end of the...

Codex Mortis is a black metal band from the Netherlands who formed in 2017.  “ Tales of Woe, ” is their second full-length album. “ Tales of Woe ,” is a short but very engaging album, burning through six tracks in around 27 minutes.  It’s always quality, not quantity, and the band delivers a lot of quality here.  This album is all about balance.  It has a lot of atmosphere, but not so much to the point where the instruments become background music.  It’s melodic but never loses its  fast paced, blistering edge. The song structures a riff based, backed by the  powerful rhythm section Mathieu Westerveld ’s bass and Michiel van der Plicht ’s drumming.  The bass is much heavier than what I usually hear in black metal.  I love this because it lends the albums a very thick, full presentation.  Because the production is impeccable, and arguably too good for this style, that heavier low end helps keep the album grim enough for the die-hards to ...