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The Best Doom Metal Album
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After their 'born-again debut' King Of The Grey Islands the pressure was high for Candlemass and their new vocalist Robert Lowe. Death Magic Doom had to prove King... was not a lucky shot and that there is a future for the marriage between Candlemass and Solitude Aeturnus vocalist Rob Lowe. And it delivered. Post-Messiah Candlemass is a riveting, bellowing war machine of Doom packing more fire-power than a legion of modern warfare tanks. Doom has to be lifeless? Think again.
›› Full review... |
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Malta's favourite doom sons hit the world once again with a super quality release. Album number four will see this band finally get the recognition they so deserve. Epic doom characterized by soaring vocals and absolutely stunning NWOBHM inspired guitar playing by what is without a doubt doom's best guitarist. Anyone looking for epic doom that is spiritual in nature and never loses the sense of proper song writing knows what to do.
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| A lumbering platter of doom defined by the pained, yet soulful, vocals of Thomas Eriksson, whose accusations and rebuke of all things religious and pondering of eternal torment really help this release stand out amongst the others in the 2009 doom crowd. |
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| The Swedish quartet follow up last year's nominee "Bliss Of Solitude" with another helping of emotive traditional doom. The clean, haunting vocals capture the listener as the guitars continue to deliver the somber message, all while Jonas Linstrom is surprisingly active behind the kit, pounding out more beats in the opening track than some funeral doom drummers might in their entire recording career. An album good enough to make the listener cry. Without tears, of course. |
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| My Lament seems to go largely unnoticed in the (romantic) Doom/Death scene. Which is a shame, because their My Dying Bride-inspired laments are everything but bad. My Lament's Broken Leaf manages to stay close to the roots of the genre and all it's sorrowful guidelines, yet at the same time remaining fresh and inviting. Fragile is the keyword for the softer passages, while grieving anger is the defining element for the faster, aggressive parts. Do this band justice and check it out. |
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These Portuguese doomsters have delivered what had been hinted at throughout their career. A true masterpiece of immense proportions. Thektonic plates crashing into each other and eroding the listeners senses. Post metal infused doom bludgeoning away. Showing that there is room for innovation within doom. An album that will soon become the benchmark for all corrosive and erosive doom. After Portugal, Madrid, Rotterdam the rest of the world awaits.
›› Full review... |
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Procession - The Cult Of Disease [EP]
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Chile is fast becoming the South American hotbed of quality doom, as can be witnessed this year by epic doomsters Procession. The buzz before the release of this ep was hot and as it turned out totally warranted.
Three new songs and to make up numbers Procession's Burn demo was added. You want your doom to be Candlemass like with a sauce of Reverend Bizarre and totally epic? Then look no further cause The Cult Of Disease has all that on offer and more.
›› Full review... |
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| Spiritus Mortis, first Finnish Doom metal band, delivers their third full-length in the form of The God Behind The God. With a line-up that has been together for several years and a latest addition in the form of former Sir Albert Witchfinder, the true Doomhead can expect nothing but godly doomy goodness. Especially Sami Hynninen, the aforementioned witchfinder of Reverend Bizarre fame, shines with his blood sweat and tears approach. It's hard to sound more passionate in this field than he does and he is without doubt the jewel in the crown. |
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The surpise of the year must surely have been that master drummer extra-ordinaire Ed Warby (of Gorefest, Ayreon, Hail Of Bullets and many others) delivered an epic doom masterpiece where he shows not only to be a great drummer but also an inventive guitarist, bassplayer and very proficient vocalist. Centred around a person's dying moments this album sure feels like a burden of grief. So, doom to the bone: heart wrenching and emotionally draining.
›› Full review... |
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After the cult and sugary-sweet Sorrow Of The Angels and Of Empires Forlorn While Heaven Wept returns with Vast Oceans Lachrymose. And suddenly they're bigger than they ever were. How come? It's not that difficult to guess actually, if you consider the fact that Vast Oceans Lachrymose is over forty minutes of balls-to-the-walls Doom metal! Beautiful leads and melodies and hard-hitting (US Power/Doom) riffs paired with Rain Irving's epic and emotional vocals, a grand apocalyptic scene for cover art... it's not that hard actually. Or is it? While Heaven Wept just make it look simple with their incredibly energetic and hungry-for-metal attitude.
›› Full review... |
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