Ad Baculum – Opening the Abyss [Brazil, Black] (2016)

Hammer of Damnation | 3-15-16

Oh Lord look at that cover. I wonder if Gustave Dore knew his legacy would be enshrined in the work of so many heavy metal album covers. What is on the cover of Ad Baculum’s third cover is a picture of “The Suicides” from Dore’s extensive illustration of Dante’s Divine Comedy. What was meant to be perhaps spiritually horrifying educating wayward Christians to a brighter path has turned into being an ominous cover for a cool as fuck metal band. Its a fair trade off.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Flesh of the Stars – Hosanna [US, Stoner Doom] (2016)

Self Released | 1-19-16

I do not cover a lot of doom. I think I cover even less stoner doom. This is not becasue I feel the style is without merit rather the imagery does not grab me as much as black and death metal. It takes a certain angle on stoner doom to grab not just me but anyone that isn’t specifically looking for that style. I want to pay attention to more doom this year as I feel there are some great bands hiding behind dark columns of smoke. If 2016 is going as well as Flesh of the Stars second record, I may be more persuaded to stay.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Majesty In Ruin – All Light Shall Fade [US, Traditional Doom] (2014)

Self Released | 7-7-14

If you are at all familiar with this site, traditional and doom do not make it on here with any sort of frequency. This isn’t because it is disliked rather black and death are given more of a spotlight. Shadow Kingdom records is a label which is dedicated to both unearthing lost gems of traditional and doom metal as well as supporting current doom and traditional metal. Majesty In Ruin is only really connected by the bassist, John Shamus Gaffney, who currently plays in Sinister Realm. Rich McCoy was in a variety of New Jersey metal bands including Coffin and Primitive Realm. Other than that Majesty in Ruin is an unattached traditional doom act who has one demo released in 2014. This sounds like a perfect place to start for a quality release.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Abjvration – The Unquenchable Pyre [France, Death / Doom] (2015)

Caligari Records | 4-15-15

Of course. Another Caligari Records release. I will not go into how much I adore this label save for the mention that this cassette heavy label specializes in unearthing some of the more forward thinking and disturbed black/death/doom acts of recent memory. Imagine my lack of surprise when I heard yet another above average doom act with dripping tendrils of misery.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Abstracter – Wound Empire [US, Sludge / Crust] (2015)

Vendetta Records | 2-15-15

Abstracter is strange for many reasons. First of all, this California based plays a cross between sludge, drone, doom, black, and noise. Second of all, the lyrical and thematic position for this band seems to be between artsy experimentalism and more traditional head splitting heavy metal. This trait is exemplified by the band’s clean font logo as well as their scrawled enigma that looks like tangled roots and rusted barbed wire. This band seems to be able to go many places which is important especially when burrowing far beneath the earth.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

The Slow Death – Ark [Australia, Death/Doom] (2015)

Chaos Records | 3-16-15

Before traveling into The Slow Death’s third full length release, one has to note the band members and their billion projects. Because this is Australia, bands like Mournful Congregation, Temple Nightside, Murkrat, and Nazxul dot the resumes of the band members involved. Brett Campbell from Pallbearer slides in an the American guest who has been working with the band since 2012. This all seems really odd considering the Slow Death has never been a high profile band seeing their first two releases gone independent and their third being released under a Mexican extreme metal label Chaos Records. I am just going to sit here sitting on my hands and listening to time slowly unravel.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Spectral Voice – Necrotic Doom [US, Death / Doom] (2015)

Self Released | 1-15-15

Sometimes one just needs the sound of pummeling death/doom to get them through the week. Spectral Voice represents a small piece in a yet to be recognized Colorado metal scene. Spectral Voice is connected to a series of death and doom bands including Abysmal Dimensions and Blood Incantation. While there are of course other bands from Colorado, this small blanket of misery is what is currently most interesting. Perhaps this is the first experience, for many, with Rocky Mountain Death.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Crypt Sermon – Out of the Garden [US, Doom] (2015)

Dark Descent Records | 2-24-15

This is perhaps the easiest review I have done in recently memory. This isn’t even due to Crypt Sermon being more than decent. The reason Crypt Sermon and their debut Out of the Garden is so easy to write about is due to not only its loyalty to a retro style but also the band’s dedication to Christian imagery. There is also the kick ass album cover. Let us not forget. Regardless of anything that can be said about the band, it is important to note how effective and decent their debut is. If you have forgotten what being embraced int he warm arms of traditional doom feels like let Crypt Sermon be your shepherd.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

מזמור / Dross [US, Black / Doom] (2015)

A.L.N. / Cloisterfolk Records | 2-1-15

In previous reviews I made mention that splits are a wonderful way to experience new acts, labels, and scenes that may be centered around a location. Last year, I came across a wonderfully horrid act מזמור (or Mizmor) on a split with fellow Oregon project Hell. Though מזמור means “psalm” in Hebrew, the meditation from this one man project is hinged on terror, dissonance, and the almighty worship of chaos. מזמור is the work of one member, A.L.N, who also plays in Urzeit with members of Ash Borer, and coincidentally provides live drums for Hell. Walking into מזמור is like hitting your head on a branch that is just one part of a larger tree of horrible black noise and doom. מזמור seems to have kept its music under a big blanket of obscurity for these past couple of years and is now teaming up with Dross, an Arizona based black metal group with only two rare cassette demos to their name. I adore these types of things.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.

Amenaza – Demo MMXV [US, Doom / Hardcore] (2015)

Self Released | 1-26-15

Hardcore has always been something that is no stranger tot his blog. Though the flirtation between metal and hardcore has been done by others in the past, its variation and sound could range from the absolute terrible to the sublime. Amenaza is from Kansas and though its body is undoubtly hardcore, old traditional doom metal runs through its veins. Amenaza’s flagship demo sets sail attempting to bring slow motion devastation to what ever shore is breached.

Kaptain Carbon

Kaptain Carbon is the custodian of Tape Wyrm, a mod for Reddit’s r/metal, Creator of Vintage Obscura, and a Reckless Scholar for Dungeon Synth.