Doomed For Metal Reviews

Splendidula is a blackened doom metal band from Belgium, who formed in 2008.  Their latest album, “ Absentia ,” is their fourth full-length album. This album is hypnotic and engaging in a unique way but also born out of tragedy.  “ Absentia ,” was created during a dark period for the band, where they lost several loved ones, including bassist Peter Chromiak .  These devastating events would bring anyone to their knees but “ Absentia ,” sees the band using their talent to speak of the emotions and turmoil of these tragedies while also rising up to write what is their best album yet.  Kristien Cools is the album’s MVP—she is constantly improving and her vocals are at the next level.  Her cleans are so unique, weird and fragile in these best ways but also profoundly emotive.  Her extreme vocals are quite arresting and even what I might call frightening.  The band matches her fervor with a performance that swings from blackened violence to doomed grief, ...

Resumption is a death/doom project from musician Wilhelm Lindh ( The Gardnerz , ex- Tristitia , ex- Pandemonium , ex- Allamedah ) that formed last year.  Wilhelm has wasted no time, already dropping Resumption’s full-length debut “ The Respite .”  According to the press release, the band aims to bridge the gap between death metal bands like Bolt Thrower and Broken Hope with the suffocating, slow atmosphere of Funeral. I’d say this is a pretty damn accurate description of the album and the band’s overall style.   The production and mix has a real DIY feel but in a good way.  The raw (ish), gravely sound works perfect for the type of doom this is—this definitely doesn’t need a shiny, happy production job!  The mix is on point too—the bass stands out really well and an absolute bulldozer.  The vocals are exactly what the songs need and they sit up at the front of the mix without overtaking any one element.   Wilhelm plays all the instruments, an...

IATT is a progressive death/black metal band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who formed in 2008.  Their latest release, “ Etheric Realms of the Night ,” is their fourth full-length album; they have also released five EPs. I reviewed their previous album, 2022’s “ Magnum Opus ,” when I wrote for Metal Temple and gave it high praise.  A few years later, the band has returned but in what form?  Is their edge dulled?  Or are they still on the path of killer prog? IATT has crafted quite the album with “ Etheric Realms of the Night .”  The problem with prog metal bands is that sometimes after releasing an album as good as “Magnum Opus,” they don’t know where to go.  Some get even heavier and lose the proggy parts that made them so interesting.  Others get lighter with so much prog they just become boring.  IATT focused on their sound and introduced new pathways while injecting their older ones with steroids.  “ Etheric …” seems more focused and by ...

When Canadian musician Damian Smith announced that the amazing Altars of Grief was on hold, I was sad.  In my humble opinion, their last album “Iris” is one of the best doom metal albums in modern times…but if Smith keeps putting out albums like “ Derelict Heart ,” from his new band Northern Graves, then I might be less sad.  Maybe.  This is blackened doom, so it isn’t exactly the happiest music.  Smith, who provides vocals, guitars, and piano, is joined by Roman Chester (bass), Branson Heinz (drums), and Andrew Caruna (vocals and guitar as well).  These four gentlemen clearly have a great synergy together because even though this album moves through both whiplash passages of blackened destitution and somber causeways of doom, it flows amazingly well from song to song.  I also want to spend some time talking about intros and interludes.  I hate them, and it is documented so throughout many of my reviews.  Well, I hate most of them.  There a...

A Dream of Poe is a Gothic doom metal band from Portugal, who formed in 2005.  Their latest release, “ Katabasis: A Marriage Among Ashes ” is their fifth full-length album; they have also released a demo, two EPs, and two live albums. I reviewed their previous album, “ The Wraith Uncrowned ,” years ago when I wrote for Metal Temple.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and have patiently waited for a follow-up for six years.  I’m happy to report “ Katabasis: A Marriage Among Ashes ,” is not only a worthy follow up but a highlight for me as the year continues to race towards its halfway point.   “ Katabasis ,” is an album that can be as elegant as it can be harsh.  Its gentle weaves can turn into corridors of macabre horror at a moment’s notice.  The instruments play with an uncommon fury, symphonic and ethereal doom that envelopes as it smothers.  Those same instruments can also be as of a leaf on the end, a cold Autumn breeze that brushes its musical stroke...

Seum is a stoner/doom/sludge band from Canada, that hit the scene in 2020 with their debut EP “ Summer of Seum .”  Their latest album, “ Parking Life ,” is their third full-length album; they have also released another EP, two splits, and two live albums. I’m sorry to say that “ Parking Life ,” is my first experience with this band—I’ve been missing out and I don’t have a frame of reference to compare them to.  But that’s ok because I can tell they really can’t be compared to anyone else.  This is a band with their own sound and “ Parking Life ,” is a unique experience.   They don’t have a guitarist–this trio is just vocals, bass, and drums.  They certainly aren’t the first band, doom or otherwise, to focus on bass only but I’m not sure if anyone has been as dynamic with that set up as what I’m hearing on “ Parking Life .”  Sludge/Doom is definitely the basis of their sound but there is a strong hardcore/punk and even pop aesthetic to the songs.  ...

  Akem Manah is a metal band whose origins began in Belgium, forming in 2007. Their latest release, “ Threnodies ,” is their second full-length album; they have also released an EP.    Doom, especially of the Gothic persuasion, is probably the best answer I could give to the question, “Hey dude what would you call Akem Manah ?”  However, that’s a scenario that would never happen because I don’t really have friends in so-called ‘real’ life.  My conversations are usually regulated to children and cats (special note:  my own children and cats, I don’t just go outside and capture these things randomly) and neither of these types of beings care about metal.  Oh shit, I think my kids and cats might be posers.  Oh well, I’m getting off track here. Akem Manah ’s style is fluid and dynamic, mixing in a variety of genres so simply calling them doom doesn’t tell the whole story.  Their influences are just as varied and listening to this album, it i...