Got Room For Doom?
I don’t know about where you reside, dear reader, but for this absolute unit of a man, August is the absolute worst time of year. Extreme heat warnings aren’t an event, but simply a way of life. One is nearly forced to trap themselves within the confines of their abode for both comfort and survival. The only acquaintances for me while typing this are the sound of cars passing through and the buzz of cicadas. It can get a little like Ground Hog Day, so to lift my spirits, a look into crushing death/doom seemed appropriate. Just like how solvents work (like dissolves like if you don’t remember Chem 101), I find myself craving the down and dreary that matches my mood.
Witherer – Shadow Without A Horizon (June 20)
If you were immediately looking for some reprieve from life and all its horrid glories, then I am sorry to disappoint you as Witherer weave a sonic tapestry of uncomfortable bleakness. Leaning more into the funeral territory of death/doom, the debut LP from this Canadian trio is both fascinating and defeating. This here is some hectic and truly evil-sounding shit that almost feels designed to be hated by the vast majority of music enjoyers, including even tenured extreme metal veterans. Structure and smooth transitions be damned as Shadow Without a Horizon crawls its way into your synapses while dissolving your sanity.
Admittedly, even I require more time spinning this beast due to its denseness and unwillingness to be understood properly after only a few listens. If you enjoy such acts as Spectral Voice, Aberration, and even a little Bell Witch, but are also craving something that constantly shifts between ideas that will challenge you, then this experience is for you. Just try and not lose yourself in the all-surrounding darkness that encapsulates your being during the runtime.
Gloombound – Dreaming Delusion (July 25)
If Witherer is a dredging through chaos via funeral-esque death/doom, then the Norwegian unit Gloombound is the opposite side of that coin. Another debut, but here we find more traditional songwriting and performances, which in no way diminishes its haunting beauty. Low and slow just like it should be, however, Dreaming Delusion is anything but ordinary. The riffs take their time as they work through their sections while accompanied by tasteful synth backing that drives the punishing tones of the other instruments forward. Not to be left out, the bass also shines through in what I may dare describe as beautiful. Each track is devastating, yet catchy because these young lads appear to already be masters of their craft.
Invoking the spirit of another funeral doom favorite, Convocation, I was immediately ensnared by the crystal-clear, but still grainy enough production and the mature songwriting. Each track is a dreary journey, but there exist enough lighter passages to assist you along. Rather than dwelling on pure darkness, Dreaming Delusion doesn’t shy away from brighter passages of piano and triumphant guitar lines. The closing track also contains perhaps my favorite solo I’ve heard in quite some time. That is not a joke either, a funeral death/doom band just shredded so good, it made me like solos again.
Thorn – Nebulous Womb of Eternity (August 8)
Now enough with all these extra slow and gloomy selections, because my local one-man cavernous death/doom stalwart Thorn dropped their new album and you already know this shit is good. If you follow this little silly blog at all, then this band should be no stranger to you. Hell, their last album, Evergloom, even made both mine and Joe’s end of the year lists, and I am here to inform you that Nebulous Womb of Eternity is even better.
Helmed by singular member Brennen Westermeyer, here marks the return of all the slime, grime, and good times (individual experiences may vary). Every single track is dripping with oozy riffs, ringing guitar passages that echo in your skull, and aggressive performances of each instrument to dissolve your conscience in their muck. The runtime for this new album is the same as the previous, however, the ideas feel stronger and better developed. Passages of stenchy groove are paired with ear-drum vibrating gutturals that sound disgustingly pleasant, no matter the level of UV index outside.
A fellow desert-dweller he may be, but Westermeyer is also a sorcerer by his impressive ability to transform this dry and water-deprived landscape into moist bogs of decaying biological matter. All you have to do is jump in and bask in the soup and enjoy the squelching.
