Showing posts with label Doom Metal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Doom Metal. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Moloch - "Possession" (2011)


Another grueling creation by the UK's sludge kings: Moloch. Riffs decompose any life that once was. Cool grooves emerge at points and then slip right back into despairing territory. Eerie sound clips like a woman changing from hysterical laughter to demon-expulsion heaving add to the [hooded] menacing recipe. Sludge inspired by EHG is taken down to a hellish tempo and is narrated by angry hollering -- everything irritating, not unlike the unfortunate time someone stepped in a swamp with their shoe on and had to wait for it to dry without taking it off, on a humid day with gnats abuzz about the ears. Yeah, the guitar tone is those gnats. The grimier the better; this is sludge at its finest. Possession brings Moloch a bit further down the path of raging antics.

Punch a neighbor.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Earth - "Earth 2 - Special Low Frequency Version" (1993)


If you consider yourself a drone fan whatsoever and do not own this yet, then you need to immediately stop calling yourself a drone fan. Respect your elders, Earth show what drone is truly about on this legendary album that is the definition of backbreaking heaviness. The cover art paints a scene truly indicative of what the recording represents: a massive slab of flat, unmoving grassland earth set among a monolithic, cloudless blue sky, a tiny encampment nestled in the corner practically unnoticeable with a quick glance. Similarly, Earth's music is gigantic; it lurches and drags and hangs in the air, overstaying its welcome. It is unmoving, yet relentlessly heavy. The sheer weight of this classic is tremendously obvious -- let it weigh on your fucking soul.

Alas, our bodies will go back to the ground one day, nay... they will go back to the E A R T H!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

More Funeral Doom

Evoken - "Antithesis Of Light" (2005)



Evoken -- American -- Funeral doom/death in the vein of Disembowelment



Longing For Dawn - "Between Elation And Despair" (2009)
Longing For Dawn -- Canadian -- Funeral doom mingling with brooding dark ambient



Skepticism - "Stormcrowfleet" (1995)

Skepticism -- Finnish -- Savage old-school funeral doom metal


Absum - "Purgatoire 2007-2009" (2010)

Absum -- American -- Funeral doom played in a punishing black metal style

Mournful Congregation - "The Monad Of Creation" (2005)


Doom metal weather is upon us; clocks are set back and darkness arrives earlier. The wind blows harder too and with it, my sense of smell coaxed and recognizes the scent of a grim winter in its wisps. Harrowing, menacing funeral doom metal to perfectly accent the coldest of Autumn evenings:

The Monad Of Creation

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Druid Lord - "Hymns For The Wicked" (2010)


I am crossing over into DeafMetal's music-review territory this time with a newer band who play a classic death/doom style of metal. Druid Lord spawned a couple years back in muggy Florida and their sound is no less sweltering. Members have purebred metal backgrounds considering their repertoires with such greats as Incubus, Equinox, and Acheron. Influences abound out of the bubbling, porridge-thick death/doom. A decadent mix of stoner and horror theatrics, blown-out, blasé recording quality, and ruthless brutality makes Hymns For The Wicked a monstrous listen. Take a hint and do what their latest Myspace status says to do: "Burn one and crank the DOOM!"

Brute.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

A Few Old Death Metal Albums...

I've noticed an outcry for old-school death metal recommendations lately, so instead of just posting one album, I will post a few lesser known legendary ones that I hold dear. Though, it should be noted that these are not strictly death metal albums, but they all maintain an overall old-school death sound. So without further ado...


Carbonized - "For The Security" (1991)


Carbonized's For The Security is a savage album. Hints of grind and avant-garde metal fleck this one of a kind 1991 masterpiece. The drumming is spectacular, the riffs are cacophonous and messy, and the are vocals are extraordinary. Check this out if you like death metal that breaks away from tradition.


Old Funeral - "The Older Ones" (1999)

Old Funeral was known for once including Varg, Abbath, and a few other major black metal artists in their line-up. Although the band was only active for a handful of years, believe it or not, these grimlins created some of the catchiest and heaviest death metal of their day. With ripping riffs, blazing blast beats, and sometimes comedic vocals, Old Funeral certainly did not take themselves very seriously. The Older Ones is a compilation album and features a great track list.

Rottrevore - "Iniquitous" (1993)


Rottrevore are local legends hailing from my town, Pittsburgh. Here is a death metal band that is difficult to be outdone in the brutality department. In fact perhaps the only other local bands who can even contest are the legendary Nunslaughter or the pulverising Dream Death. Iniquitous is a remarkable old-school album making its debut in 1993, proving that great death metal didn't have to come from New York or Florida. There are some really good riffs here and the vocals are disturbingly guttural.



Ophis - "Withered Shades" (2010)


I cannot recommend this album enough. Ophis's 2010 release, Withered Shades, is a perfect example of what crushing modern death/doom metal should sound like. Riffs are slow and suffocating and the vocals boom and bellow from the depths below (my nether regions quiver with glee). If you skip out on this then you are not a true metal fan, you are a wimp.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Münn - "Selbstmordwald Rehearsal Demo" (2008)


In 2008, Woodsmokers, Münn, made their lone rehearsal demo available to earthlings before realizing that they were not fit for this world and hurriedly shriveled away back into the forest mists, never to be heard from again. Often reminiscent of a noisier Moss, Münn's Selbstmordwald Rehearsal Demo brings any listener to their quaking knees. This 80 minute demo is harsher than a hobo's morning breath, each song louder and heavier than the next. In short, the Selbstmordwald Rehearsal Demo offering is not of this world, in fact it is...

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Rigor Sardonicous - "Apocalypsis Damnare" (2005)


Rigor Sardonicous are legends in their own respect -- the New York duo formed in 1988, but it wasn't until 1999 that they released their first full-length, Apocalypsis Damnare. The quality of production here is below average, cymbals loud and crashing, Joe Fogarazzo's stomach-churning vocals resounding like the bellow of a humpback whale. Akin to a stiff, rotting stench hanging in the air, funeral riffs linger and suffocate the listener with their thick molasses tempo.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Winter - "Into Darkness" (1990)


Into Darkness is my favorite death/doom album next to Spina Bifida's Ziyadah, and rightfully so. This legendary release is simply satisfying. Every riff is arduous; the vocals, deep and mean. The drum work is also excellent and, although there is something slightly unkempt about the album, it certainly doesn't take away from its ability to please. Despite existing as a band for only 3 years, Winter's footprint has called many other imitators to attempt to fill its massive size and, albeit, a few come close, the mighty Winter will forever be the entity remembered for being one of the first to participate in this grueling genre. Is there anything colder than W I N T E R ?

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Earth - "The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull" (2008)


Earth writes some of the heaviest, back-breaking drone/doom around but if you haven't been paying attention for awhile, their last few albums have opted for a less-distorted, mellower approach. That isn't to say that their latest releases haven't been heavy; quite the contrary... The Bees Made Honey is one of the heaviest albums I've ever heard. Earth combines desert drone with the desolate atmosphere of some kind of post-rock, and creates one of the loneliest instrumental masterpieces of all time. Images of dusty highways bordered by long-forsaken boomtowns vividly come to mind when listening to this release, that only more solidifies Earth's key place in music history.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Salem - "Destruction Till Death" (1987)


Israeli death metal band, Salem, released their masterpiece in 1987, Destruction Till Death -- an album that shouldn't be taken lightly by any extreme metal fan. With a production that speaks true to its time, this sloppy demo crushes all competitors. A 48 minute experience that has the disgust and aggression of Excavation's Gravemouth and features a blasphemous vocal range reminiscent of Eyehategod's Dopesick (despite it being several years older than both releases), Destruction Till Death is often an overlooked old-school  classic that was a favorite of Euronymous himself and has influenced countless of other classic bands.

Pentacrostic - "The Pain Tears" (1992)



Pentacrostic's The Pain Tears is a death/doom album from 1992 that never ceases to please. With crawling riffs and tortured screams, this is a must-have for anyone who considers themselves a fan of the genre.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Rippikoulu - "Musta Seremonia" (1993)


One of Finland's finest offerings: death/doom legends, Rippikoulu. Musta Seremonia is as gritty and effective as sandpaper with simplistic riffs and dynamite drumming. The production is quite coarse and will certainly not appeal to all metal fans, so best leaving this one to the seasoned veterans.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Cianide - "The Dying Truth" (1992)


The Dying Truth is a death/doom classic released in 1992. Cianide's debut LP conjures images of a wooly mammoth's slowly deteriorating carcass -- slow and steady and disgusting. The album's monolithic chugging riffs will fracture necks, but hark! there are a few blast beats to be heard, accompanied by gurgled barking that will make you think you have stepped into Hell whilst it being under construction.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Upsidedown Cross - "Upsidedown Cross" (1991)


Upsidedown Cross is the epitome of a one-of-a-kind band. With filthy, drunken yells, singer Larry Lifeless brings a vocal performance to the table that is unlike any other band I've heard. The guitar riffs are sludgy and laced with drugged-out psychedelic doom metal; listen as the band creates an atmosphere comparable to being wasted at a black mass with your middle-aged uncle and his friends. This vomit is highly recommended.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Moss - "Sub Templum" (2008)


Who likes to drone out into outer space? Who likes to nod aggressively and periodically? Imagine Sunn O))) with drum patterns. Noise ricocheting off of archaic cathedrals and expanding thine skull. Canyons echoing into the dimness of twilight. Works best when listened to at a high amount of decibels over an extended period of time.

Patience, young one.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Mourning Beloveth - "The Sullen Sulcus" (2002)



Beautifully crushing and bleak with sheer ferocity, there are not many other doom metal records that can touch this monolith's severity. Clocking in at just over an hour, The Sullen Sulcus, in its cleaner moments, is  reminiscent of fellow Irish act, Primordial, and can easily draw comparisons to early My Dying Bride. Look into this release if you want to endure a long journey to a landscape of fire and brimstone.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Thou / Moloch - "Tears That Soak A Callous Heart" (2010)


A truly special team-up of grueling sludge. From both ends of the world, Thou delivers their monolithic swamp rock sound while Moloch holds down the pessimistic scene of depravity. Both sides of the cassette, or vinyl, slay at satisfyingly slow tempos. Do yourself a favor and support these monsters.

Tears That Soak A Callous Heart

Warning - "Watching From A Distance" (2006)


With their trademark near-funeral doom playing style, 2006 saw Warning put out one of the most melancholic, tear-evoking albums in the history of the genre. Patrick Walker's unmistakable vocals soar across some of the most mournful, depressing riffs ever written. Watching From A Distance is a modern doom metal masterpiece in every sense of the word.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Spina Bifida - "Ziyadah" (1993)

Spina Bifida was a death/doom metal band from the Netherlands who only released a 1992 demo and a full-length in 1993 entitled, Ziyadah, and here it is in all its glory: