Review: EVOKEN – ‘Hypnagogia’ [Album Stream]

The New Jersey funeral doom masters, Evoken return with their long-awaited, sixth full-length album, ‘Hypnagogia.’ It’s the quintet’s first LP in six years since 2012’s ‘Atra Mors.’ Over the course of an hour across the eight tracks on ‘Hypnagogia,’ John Paradiso (guitar/vocals), Chris Molinari (guitar), Dave Wagner (bass), Don Zaros (keyboards), and Vince Verkay (drums) take the listener on an atmospheric, psychological mindfuck of a journey from dark to even darker. The low, sludgy riffs crush with the weight of massive concrete slabs under the sorrowful weeping of crisp, lead guitar melodies. Drums and bass are deliberate and punishing, while keys provide an ominously haunting complexity. Vocally, Paradiso’s deep, guttural growl resounds like an otherworldly being beckoning through the endless void. For those who care to indulge in such morose pleasures, ‘Hypnagogia’ is a beautifully depressive, brutal, and immersive rite of passage into the darkest abyss. Continue reading

Review: BELL WITCH – ‘Mirror Reaper’ [Partial Album Stream]

Spawned by the tragic passing of former drummer Adrian Guerra, Seattle doom metal band Bell Witch have returned with ‘Mirror Reaper’: a full length full of tragedy, atmosphere, and complexity. They will release their third full-length, ‘Mirror Reaper’, worldwide on October 20th via Profound Lore Records. To be quite honest, this was a hard listen for me the first time around and I imagine that for many others it will be as well. ‘Mirror Reaper’ consists of one track, totaling in at 83 mins. Needless to say, this is definitely not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. However, by my second and third listens I found my self getting lost in the music, almost as if in a trance of gloom, and when I emerged, I felt that I had a better understanding and appreciation for this release!  Continue reading

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM Unveil Music Video For “Born From The Serpent’s Eye”

Since their inception in 2002, over the course of 5 studio albums and hundreds of live performances, WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM have refracted Black Metal through their own cascadian prism.  Their songs explore the hidden world of magic that one accesses through dreams, visions and music and the resulting sounds are intimately linked to the wild lands of the Pacific Northwest.  Now, a portal into the dreamworld of WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM opens again with their forthcoming sixth LP, ‘Thrice Woven‘ –  a glorious return to the blazing and furious Black Metal that they alone can create.  Today, the band has unveiled a magical new music video for a segment of the album’s first single, “Born from the Serpent’s Eye.”

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Review: Chalice Of Suffering – ‘For You I Die’ [Stream]

Founded in 2015, Chalice of Suffering may be based in Minneapolis, Minnesota but, they also have musicians from Alford, Massachusetts and also Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. The bands international roots also add to the flavor of the band as well. There are elements within their sound you don’t normally hear within American Funeral Doom. Founder John McGovern not only brings his vocals to the band, but his incredible writing talents. Though the lyrics at times are few and far between they are one of the strongest elements of the bands style. Chalice of Suffering is largely comprised of members of other bands. Both guitarist Will Maravelas and drummer Aaron Lanik are members of the band death metal band We Are Legion, and Plague of Stars. The band has been building momentum prior to their debut album releasing. Recording of ‘For You I Die’ started in early 2015, the album cover was revealed last September, and late April 2016 saw the digital launch and CD releases through Times End (USA) and GSP (Russia), with vinyl and cassette versions to follow. The album was recorded & mastered at: 14:59 Studios Minneapolis, MN, and was recorded and produced by members of the band. Continue reading

Beneath Oblivion

 

beneathoblivion

 

 

*This is part of our State Of The Arts series, showcasing bands every Monday from the state of the month*

This month’s state is Ohio.

Beneath Oblivion are based out of Cincinnati, Ohio. They have been together since 2003 and self released their first full length in 2006 titled “Existence Without Purpose”. The album they released in 2011  “From Man to Dust” is an incredible piece of doom from start to finish. The band defines funeral doom. The symphony of darkness on tracks like “Atomic Mother” capture you and have you listening and out of nowhere the vocals take hold of your throat keeping your attention. Each song seems to capture a darkness in its own way. The only way to convey the sound is like feeling each stage of death then hitchhiking your way back from hell. They are expecting another release soon. This band should not slip by anyone the vocals Scott T. Simpson brings to this album are flawlessly combined with the guitar work by himself and Allen L. Scott II. Nothing in the music is overdone, it’s the correct amount of everything. Bassist Keith Messerle and drummer Nate Bidwell play off each other like dirt beating down on a casket. When everything seems unbearably dark they let just a little light in, only so they can again bring you into the darkness again.

 

 

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