Extreme German funeral doom with a curious "Moby Dick" theme. Ahab, is big, angry, grizzled and reflects the desolation and brutality of the sea. Their current releases include a single, a demo, and a CD (The Stream (2004), The Oath (2005) and The Call of the Wretched Sea (2006), respectively).

an mp3 ("The Stream" from the respective single):
http://www.mp3.com.au/track.asp?id=98680

Im not sure about the quality of The Stream, but at least let it give you an idea.

GET THE CALL OF THE WRETCHED SEA IMMEDIATELY.

I have it at home, but I wont to read the book 'Moby Dick' along with it. And that book is taking too fucking long to get here. And in the meanwhile I have a CD which I don't want to/can't listen to.

The concept behind this album is truly awesome (being Moby Dick one of my favourite books), and so is the music... it flows like a very heavy leviathan of doom, and I love the quiet passion it encloses... and I feel this shit will still grow in me much more...

The Funeral Doom album of the year after Pantheist and along with Wormphlegm

Mastodon already did the whole Moby Dick theme though...

But who cares. Mastodon is slightly different music from Ahab.

Finally listened to it, awesome shit. I love it, real sweet stuff.

Ahab is a really great band IMO..
It's worth to listen to them!!

Their 4 songs demo is good, especially the first track. Good stuff and I also adore the book (I'm not finished reading it though).

i only came across the band coz of their guitarist. he's in some other folk/gothic metal band called Midnattsol.

for some reason, after i heard songs by Shape Of Despair, no other doom metal band impressed me all too much. there may have been draconian who came to the doom genre a bit differently, but still. and it was like that for a good 2 years or so. and then Ahab changed my view. i still say that Shape Of Despair is better, but Ahab have their own unique touch to em.

Pre-ordered the new album. Anyone as curious as I am? Hoping for something great!

Written by Lucas on 03.06.2009 at 11:28

Pre-ordered the new album. Anyone as curious as I am? Hoping for something great!

Well, I am... and also can't wait to see them play live in October.
Where did you pre-order? PLease don't say... Displeased

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 03.06.2009 at 11:32

Written by Lucas on 03.06.2009 at 11:28

Pre-ordered the new album. Anyone as curious as I am? Hoping for something great!

Well, I am... and also can't wait to see them play live in October.
Where did you pre-order? PLease don't say... Displeased

Of course I did. Which also means that I won't get the Grey album until the new Ahab is released... most people learn from their mistakes... I don't, hahaha.

Written by Lucas on 03.06.2009 at 11:35

Which also means that I won't get the Grey album until the new Ahab is released... most people learn from their mistakes... I don't, hahaha.

I just wanted to say: Don't learn from your mistakes? Order Grey somehwere else, that's what I would do.

Cannot wait for it here, either. i'll likely order online, as it's not at all likely to appear in the local record shop.

lol, i will make it part of my almost now mythical order from pscyhadoomelic...

One of the things I found cool is how it's seems to be from the point of view of the whale and not so much of the Captian's or the crew. Very cools stuff - done very well. I was unaware of the new release.

Ordered the vinyl of "Call Of The Wretched Sea". Had the idea to buy those Art Vinyl frames, so I can put some vinyl that has amazing artwork on my wall. The Call is very likely going to be one of them.

Written by Lucas on 12.06.2009 at 15:29

Ordered the vinyl of "Call Of The Wretched Sea". Had the idea to buy those Art Vinyl frames, so I can put some vinyl that has amazing artwork on my wall. The Call is very likely going to be one of them.

Man...the depth of that album is going to sound just orgasmic on wax. Curses on this damn compressed CD sound and not being able to afford records!

Written by Doc G. on 12.06.2009 at 17:18

Written by Lucas on 12.06.2009 at 15:29

Ordered the vinyl of "Call Of The Wretched Sea". Had the idea to buy those Art Vinyl frames, so I can put some vinyl that has amazing artwork on my wall. The Call is very likely going to be one of them.

Man...the depth of that album is going to sound just orgasmic on wax. Curses on this damn compressed CD sound and not being able to afford records!

I don't know what the situation is like in Canada but over here in The Netherlands they are usually just as expensive as cd's unless they are double vinyl or have lavish gatefold sleeves then they are a little more expensive but not much.

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 12.06.2009 at 17:53

Written by Doc G. on 12.06.2009 at 17:18

Written by Lucas on 12.06.2009 at 15:29

Ordered the vinyl of "Call Of The Wretched Sea". Had the idea to buy those Art Vinyl frames, so I can put some vinyl that has amazing artwork on my wall. The Call is very likely going to be one of them.

Man...the depth of that album is going to sound just orgasmic on wax. Curses on this damn compressed CD sound and not being able to afford records!

I don't know what the situation is like in Canada but over here in The Netherlands they are usually just as expensive as cd's unless they are double vinyl or have lavish gatefold sleeves then they are a little more expensive but not much.

Well, to buy a new record here its usually 30-45, as opposed to the 15-25 for CD. That and I'd need to buy a new record player as well as a decent sound system to go with it....all things that are financially unreasonable for me at the moment.

I just returned from spring break and I managed to make it to California and see the west coast, that is the Pacific Ocean. I remembered when I got there I wanted to listen to The Call of the Wretched Sea even though it was a sunny and warm day. Kind of comical once you think about it but that's what I was reminded of. Listening to "Redemption Lost" currently and Ahab totally manages to capture the desolation of the sea, especially with those nautical leads. Argh!

Written by Clintagräm on 16.03.2010 at 02:13

I just returned from spring break and I managed to make it to California and see the west coast, that is the Pacific Ocean. I remembered when I got there I wanted to listen to The Call of the Wretched Sea even though it was a sunny and warm day. Kind of comical once you think about it but that's what I was reminded of. Listening to "Redemption Lost" currently and Ahab totally manages to capture the desolation of the sea, especially with those nautical leads. Argh!

Hhehehe nice, I live in the coast and one day I was taking a walk with my family and I was listened to their debut. I can't begin to describe how powerful the songs sounded.

Hopefully it won't be too long before we hear some new Ahab material. Luckily we've got two amazing releases to hold us up until such a time comes.

I always tended to listenThe Divinity of Oceans a bit more because of its floaty drifty riffs and general awesomness, but, Listening to The Call of the Wretched Sea, it's just so much more suited to the sound of the ocean and it's infinitely crushing, murky and aggressive presence. It truly is the better album.

Can't wait to hear what the next album sounds like! CHEA!!

Written by -DC-002- on 27.07.2011 at 23:12

I always tended to listenThe Divinity of Oceans a bit more because of its floaty drifty riffs and general awesomness, but, Listening to The Call of the Wretched Sea, it's just so much more suited to the sound of the ocean and it's infinitely crushing, murky and aggressive presence. It truly is the better album.

Can't wait to hear what the next album sounds like! CHEA!!

I also think their debut is the better album but the Divinity Of Oceans is still a wonderful album but it shows a different portrait of the ocean to me, a far calmer yet more sorrowful one. While the debut is just absolutely terrifying and indifinitely crushing as you said.

Written by X-Ray Rod on 28.07.2011 at 00:26

Written by -DC-002- on 27.07.2011 at 23:12

I always tended to listenThe Divinity of Oceans a bit more because of its floaty drifty riffs and general awesomness, but, Listening to The Call of the Wretched Sea, it's just so much more suited to the sound of the ocean and it's infinitely crushing, murky and aggressive presence. It truly is the better album.

Can't wait to hear what the next album sounds like! CHEA!!

I also think their debut is the better album but the Divinity Of Oceans is still a wonderful album but it shows a different portrait of the ocean to me, a far calmer yet more sorrowful one. While the debut is just absolutely terrifying and indifinitely crushing as you said.

For sure, Sorrow is definitely one of the key components to The Divinity of Oceans. One more nailhead hit :{D

Written by -DC-002- on 28.07.2011 at 09:24

For sure, Sorrow is definitely one of the key components to The Divinity of Oceans. One more nailhead hit :{D

Sorrow? I hear the threatening, ominous majesty of the open sea, the sinister sound of waves, the deafening, resounding melody of the fathomless depths. No sorrow at all.

Be that as it may, Ahab is easily one of the best doom bands ever. I always say that it's very difficult to make good doom songs - you have much less means to attract the listener. But Ahab's songs, even stripped of heaviness, and all sound effects, are still fantastic compositions. Great riffs, brilliant drumming, engaging, intriguing songs.
I would have a hard time deciding which album is better, because I love them equally. As for sheer number of listens to a whole album, "The Call of the Wretched Sea" wins, but my favourite song is "Tombstone Carousal" off "The Divinity of Oceans".

Written by Daniell on 28.07.2011 at 09:58

Sorrow? I hear the threatening, ominous majesty of the open sea, the sinister sound of waves, the deafening, resounding melody of the fathomless depths. No sorrow at all.

Their second album has way calmer moments giving more a feeling of desperation (just like the feeling I get from the painting), like in the calm section of "Redemption Lost". The heavy parts for me just keep on showing a feeling of desperation from the crew but not really the ocean itself.
Where the debut was more concentrated in the Ocean itself and the beast in it... The second album is (to me anyway) more focused in the crew and how they are dealing with all the tragedy

The bottom line is: They are absolutely brilliant. It's impossible not to get an image on your head while listening to their music.
For the "which album is better" question I also feel that as a whole, the debut wins (but just by an inch) but The Divinity Of Oceans has some songs that are PERFECT if I look them individually. Redemption Lost would be my favorite so far. The calm section with those clean vocals and militant drums just gets me everytime, so damn emotional.

Written by Daniell on 28.07.2011 at 09:58

Written by -DC-002- on 28.07.2011 at 09:24

For sure, Sorrow is definitely one of the key components to The Divinity of Oceans. One more nailhead hit :{D

Sorrow? I hear the threatening, ominous majesty of the open sea, the sinister sound of waves, the deafening, resounding melody of the fathomless depths. No sorrow at all.

Drifting on the ocean with no hope, aboard a ship with a crew of starving people, no hope in sight with the spirit dead long ago. DRIFTING aimlessly with no sight of.... anything but sea, I think that would cause some SORROW in my book... But yes, Threatening, ominous, majestic (oh yes), sinister, deafening, they all paint the bigger picture as well.

Started with the song Redemption Lost. Very atmospheric.

Anybody know any new info about them concerning any new albums?

Written by Rog-Mothoth on 25.11.2011 at 05:01
Anybody know any new info about them concerning any new albums?

"Ahoy,

in the end of january we'll enter studio to record the yet untitled follow up of ?The Divinity of Oceans".These days we're in the final writing session to finish the compositions. We promise to keep on informing you about the process this time.

Cheers,
AHAB"

(from their Facebook page)