November is Doom -The Top 10 Doom Albums of 2025

 

I love to celebrate death and darkness. Doom is the music that should not only embrace a sense of loss and depression but sonically express it. These are the albums that did that best captured that feeling this year.   After I sort through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, I use those lists to compile the top 10 albums of the 2025 The very fact these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album; there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. 

After all, we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day, what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, and you look forward to listening to it again. Perhaps you can find your next favorite on this list, and I have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out the audio on these guys. Anyway, here are the top 10 Doom albums of 2025.

10-Born of Plagues-"Dead Endings."

This is the second album from these Baltimore doomsters. They are capable of stepping on the gas to create more of a death metal feel at times, but it is just a more aggressive dynamic to the doom they churn. Where the first album was more sludge-driven, this one has a darker, more mournful, melancholic edge. That is not to say the sonic edge is gone, but it is smoothed out for a more metal sound.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/11/november-is-doom-born-of-plagues-dead.html

 

9-Oromet-"the Sinking Isle." 

The second album from this California-based duo finds that the potency of weed is not waning in the Golden State. It evokes the kind of lingering doom lethargy that earns the title of funeral doom, with the low growl of the vocals mixed in the background under the sonic procession of guitar that brings Mournful Congregation to mind. They are heavier sonically than heavy metal, with the chords sailing in the seas where shoegaze and kraut rock washed together with the dynamic scope of what they bathe your ears in. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/11/november-is-doom-oromet-sinking-isle.html

8-Patriarchs in Black-"Home." 

A project comprised by two music legends, Johnny Kelly of Type O Negative fame, and guitarist Dan Lorenzo, who played in the groundbreaking Non-Fiction.  They play blues-based doom tunes, with different singers on each track. Some of these include  Kyle Thomas of Exhorder, who belts it out in his trademark husky soulful swagger. Another noted performance comes from  Karl Agell from the "Blind" era C.O.C., taking the mic, makes me think of Tony Martin, who belts it out in a more nuanced manner than what you might expect from him.  The entire album is full of surprises that work off the more traditional metal aspects of doom. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/06/patriarchs-in-black-home.html

 

7-Drowned in Silver- "Mothers." 

This band from Poland is interesting; the exotic drowning ambiance opens the door to great darkness, leaving you unsure of which shade of it will attack you. The vocals sometimes take on an aggressive grit, as the instrumentation carries an odd dissonance, summoned with the saxophone coloring the background is almsot as noisy as what Swans ventures in at times. Even when things build into a heavier dynamic, this remains a fair point of comparison, perhaps throwing in a doom version of what Diamanda Galas does as another point of reference. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/11/november-is-doom-drowned-in-silver.html

 

 

6-Paradise Lost-"Ascension." 

The 17th album from the progenitors of death doom shuns expectations. using the tropes from both genres, while sometimes trying to grab the goth metal throne that Type O Negative left vacant. They go from straightforward death metal to the grandiose pagentry of morose doomy rock that lends itself to the Type O comparisons. He sings most of the song, then things become more split in equal portions when it comes to his delivery.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/09/paradise-lost-ascension.html

 

5-November's Doom-"Major Arcana." 

The 12th album from this band highlights who they are. Sometimes stepping on the gas to deliver a more heavily chugged death doom assault, before flowing into melodic metal power ballads, though generally more of the aggressive side both lyrically and sonically. Paul Kur has fully perfected the dynamic of his vocal style, nailing clean vocals with the same fluid ease he belted out the more powerful growls. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/09/novembers-doom-major-arcana.html

4-Cold in Berlin- "Wounds." 

 The lines between goth and doom are blurred even further on this album as the songs carry a darker, more pulsating beat. Maya continues to belt things out with the expected intensity. The hypnotic pulse of "12 Crosses" shares some common ground with grunge from the '90s, while also employing more exotic flourishes of atmosphere. Even amid the deliberate rumble, they leave plenty of room for Maya to express herself as the bass line lurks. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/10/gothtober-cold-in-berlin-wounds.html

3-Shedfrombody- "Whisper and Wane." 

This is her fourth album, so she knows how to head in the darkest direction for marrying sound to songs, proving you do not have to have a groove as long as you cause the throbbing of said sounds. It is not the album to put on when you are drinking coffee and getting ready to start your day, but more of its getting dark, smoking some pot music. The precision begins to build and create a distant heaviness that is emotive, 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/01/shedfromthebody-whisper-and-wane.html

       2-Evoken-"Mendacium" 

 It's been 7 years since New Jersey's doom masters blessed us with an album. The same lineup played on "Atra Mors" is all that matters to me, as they deliver something even darker and more dismal here. There is a great deal of space in the mix. Everything echoes out into it. This does not find the sound converging in lush layers, but isolated, which sonically captures a lonelier mood. Great guitar works rip out from things that are driven by the slow funeral doom march. While this album is compelling and one of the most impressive doom albums you have heard in some time, it was edged out by the number one spot that was taken by a band that transcended all limitations of the genre. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/09/evoken-mendacium.html

 

 

1-Hangman's Chair- "Saddiction" 

The modern kings of gloom bring a sonic pounding counterbalanced by the trademark passion of the vocals, things ebb down into a more depressive introspection as the rollercoaster of the album's dynamic sets in motion. Some interesting production choices in this often reverb-heavy recording are best appreciated when played loudly through headphones. It's a band whose songwriting continues to exceed expectations and put them at the top of the heap, not just when it comes to doom or metal, but all artists making music today. Which is why they captured the number one spot here. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/02/hangmans-chair-saddiction.html

Thanks for reading. Please "like" and share on social media to give music a voice 

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Check out our Podcast here ... https://www.youtube.com/@abysmalhymns666

Gothtober - Wil's 11th Annual Halloween Playlist

Here is my 11th annual Halloween Playlist. The world holds as many distractions and diversions as it has in previous years. I am making a more concerted and intentional effort to focus on the celebrations of the Halloween season around me, as my soundtrack pretty much remains constant year after year. I believe if we forget the things that brought us joy as children, we will become miserable adults buried in anxiety over bills and the stock market. This makes a proper soundtrack dedicated to darkness even more needed to capture the magical excitement of Halloween. Perhaps these songs might bring some sonic horror to your ears and carry Halloween into the rest of the year for you. 

This year all songs are new releases, and hopefully not repeating artists from previous years, though not holding myself to this as I am not meticously combing over past years playlists, as I made this while I'm moving, so a little bit of a time crunch, as things like changing internet providers come into play, ya know pesky real life stuff. . Goth and all its various sub-genres are the most obvious tombs to plunder. I am including a few artists that lean in a more rock or metal direction. Lyrically, the songs are at least metaphors for things that go bump in the night or are related to the season. This year’s theme seems to be death. As the veil between the living and the dead thins, may you be happily haunted and continue to play this loudly in dark places!

Hangman's Chair- 'To Know the Night" 

Patriarchy- "A New Way" 
 

Scorpion Milk -"She Wolf of London" 

 

Street Sex- "Turn Blue"

 

Heartworms - "Extraordinary Wings" 

 Black Cross Hotel- "The House That God Doesn't Visit" 

 

  Dax Riggs- "Graveyard Soul" 

Deathbyromny -"Corpse Kiss" 

Messa- "Thicker Blood" 

Paradise Lost- "This Stark Town 

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Paradise Lost : "Ascension"

 

The 17th album from Paradise Lost finds the progenitors of death doom shunning expectations. using the tropes from both genres, while sometimes trying to grab the goth metal throne that Type O Negative left vacant. The first song is straightforward death metal, but more deliberate than the rushed flow of double bass most bands hit you with. "Tyrant's Serenade" is more of the grandiose pagentry of morose doomy rock that lends itself to the Type O comparisons. He sings most of the song, then things become more split in equal portions when it comes to his delivery. "Salvation" is not as memorable as the first two songs. 

There a chunks of more traditional metal sections that keep cropping up, one point "Salvation" brings Judas Priest to mind. 'Silence of the Grave" is driven by this kind of triumphant chug and is one of the most effective songs so far. The solos on this album are very rock n roll. This album finds drummer Jeff Singer returning to the band. He has also played for My Dying Bride, but is going for more of a rock feel on this album. "Lay A Wreath Upon the World" is a folk metal ballad that finds them back jockeying to claim the goth metal throne. 

"Diluvium" is the first song that leans into more of a doom stomp. The vocals are bellowed with more aggression, but not a growl. Some of the more Priest-like riffs break this up. It was around "Savage Days' that things ebbed down and faded into the background, so I had to go back and give another listen. Second listen finds it coasting along. The stomp to "Sirens" reminds me of Iced Earth with its more muscular, almsot power metal style of chugging thrash, though they offer more subtle melody here. "Decievers" rocks out harder than the previous song, though  "Sirens" has a more melodic flow. 

After a couple of listens, the doomy throb driving "the Precipice" grew on me, but the vocals to "This Stark Town" are more compelling. The last song kinda rides the middle ground between goth metal and the death doom style they are known for. I will give this a 9.5 and see how it grows on me, as overall it flows better than most of their more recent work. Fans should praise this balance. Oddly enough the Peaceville sound is out on Nuclear Blast.

Thanks for reading, give a listen to the song below, and  please "like" and share on social media to give music a voice 

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Check out our Podcast here ... https://www.youtube.com/@abysmalhymns666

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LIK : "Necro"

 When I hear the term Swedish Death Metal, I used to think of something more in line with At the Gates, but now it seems like the phrase is code for 'we love Entombed', and by the band's own admission, they wanted the opening track to sound like Entombed. They succeeded. I dig Entombed, not really a band I listen to as much now as I did in the 90s, but they have a distinct sound. Hopefully, the rest of this album finds this band showcasing their distinct sound and not becoming an Entombed tribute band. Though the guitar melodies seem to convey they are paying tribute to a wider range of Swedish death metal, as it is more At the Gates, in its aggressive delivery. Truth be told, I might like the first song better. Around the two-minute mark, a pretty killer riff comes in, but they just solo over it. Even then, the rule here is "cool riffs alone does not a good song make". 

"They" is more deliberate and marginally darker. It hits a pretty solid "Wolverine Blues" era groove. It might be the best song so far. This is the band's fourth album, so they know what they are doing production-wise and have a sound dialed in, even if it is not the world's most original sound. One thing that plays to the band's favor is their economic songwriting that finds them keeping things around the three to four minute mark. With a song like the rapid fire "Worms Inside" they got straight for the throat and leave little time to fuck around and let things sprawl out. Their formula at this point seems to be to throw the best riff in at the two-minute mark to switch it up. The growl of the bass leads the way into the grind of "Morgue Rat". It's a darker, more throbbing song, which is a sound I prefer over feeling like things are being rushed by momentum.  Granted, this drags things out into the five-minute mark, but it's time well spent, and not a droning jam. 

They pour on the speed for "Shred into Pieces".  In doing so, it pretty much turns into a rumble that sounds like everything else in this vein. Their drummer is a beast, but you have to be to play death metal. They cast a doomy shadow on things with "In Ruins", though step on the gas once they are into the verse. Nik Holmes from Paradise Lost lends his voice to the song. But he is pretty much buried in the layering of vocals, until they break things down enough for him to give a goth mumble over it. The overall vocal performance on this song seems more intentional than most. The rushed thrashing of "the Stockholm Massacre" finds interesting lyrics lost in the frantic delivery. 

"Fields of Death" is another speed fest, that at this point is getting dynamically tiring, as it feels like you are being hit with the same blunt force straight to your eardrums. There are some who are going to be a fans of this sort of thing. The last song is doomier, and works better to establish a mood than the thrashing ultra violence they kept hitting us with. For this reason I will round this down to an 8, they are skilled at what they do which is a specific flavor of death metal that is not always my thing. This drops on Metal Blade. 

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Host : "IX"

 

Nick Holmes and Greg Mackintosh from Paradise Lost have ventured off to more melodic territory with this album. I heard dark wave getting thrown around in reference to this album, and that is not what I hear on the opening track. It is a more melodic and more electronic based effort in contrast to their other band , but not goth, as least on the first song. They y of come closer to that sort of thing on the second song, but but it's not much darker than the first song. The best is more dance oriented. It brings Porcupine Tree to mind more than Mission UK. There is more of a Depeche Mode feel to " Divine Emotion" which brings it closest to whatever you want to call goth these days.

On paper this should win me over with ease. It is a formula that should be destined to work. Two guys from a metal band I like venture out to make something in the zip-code of goth. But it lacks the hooks and darkness to persuade me. The beat and vocal syncopation improve on "A Troubled Mind" . The vocals fall where they should. It is not the darkest song, but it is headed in a right direction. While it's a pleasant listen " My Only Escape" makes me wonder why they did not do these songs with Paradise Lot. There are plenty of Paradise Lost songs that stroke me as being more goth than what goes down on this album. 

"Years of Suspicion" is a more confident step in the darker direction they were trying to wrestle toward. "Inquisition" sounds more like Gary Numan to me. The last song does not come together in the way you might expect. Instead it's brooding hesitates and ponders. I will still give this album a 9, as it is done and if I went into this with a better understanding , my expectations might have been more aligned. For what it is it works well, they are still solid song writers, this is not as dark as expected is the only problem I have, when I listen to it knowing what this is , it works just fine. 

Black Waves of Adrenochrome – The Sisters of Mercy Tribute

A metal tribute album to Sisters of Mercy is a pretty safe bet. Sisters were already half way there and they have certainty influenced most of the darker metal bands. The trick is capturing Andrew Eldritch's vocals . This can be the sticking point when many of these bands growl more than sing. In some cases this is the first foray into singing I have heard . Another odd thing about this album is it is not the bands that you think have this in bag that shine here. Case in point being the fact that Atrocity's cover of "More" smokes Paradise Lost's  take on "Walk Away". You would think Sisters of Mercy would be their bread and butter. Part of the problem being Atrocity just picked a better song/ 

Cradle of Filth is known for really butchering most covers they try to tackle. Dani Filth does does than I expected here. "No Time to Cry" is not my favorite Sisters of Mercy song by far,  "Deadlock" has better female vocals that help out with some of the backing parts , but she also sings some of Andrew's parts up the octave. I think they at least captured the spirit of the song. Nevergreen does an even better cover of "More" than Atrocity. Seems an odd song for multiple bands to cover on the same album. I have never heard of Maryslim, but they got to cover" This Corrosion". They do it justice so I guess there is not much room to complain about it.  Daeonia is another new band for me , they fare pretty well with "Alice".  Kreator is an odd choice for this album. They make "Lucretia My Reflection" work, but the odds were in their favor since it is likely the best song.  However Dan Swano steals it away from them with his cover which might be the album's best. 

Dreadful Shadows who closes the album wit ha pretty solid take on "1959" makes me feel like they were already a goth band and not a metal band covering goth. Crematory offers a heavier take on "Temple of Love" than the earlier version . Columbia Obstruction Box just does not seem like they are on the same level ass even the least known of these other bands. Their "Marian" is passable , but the vocals felt pitchy and strained.  I will give this an 8.5, since not all of these songs are new , the Kreator version was sitting around a few years . They assembled some lesser known covers from bigger bands to help bolster the lesser known bands, not a bad business model. 

the Top 10 Doom Albums of 2020

I heard a so-called metal head say "I have had all the gloomy music I can take" when he cracked under the pressure of 2020. If I had been standing in front of him, I would have slapped the fucking taste from his mouth like the Bat-man & Robin meme. People are dying in 2020. I have been to 2 funerals myself. But I celebrate death, that is why I listen to doom. I mean the name of the genre says it all. If you are not down with despair then get the fuck out of here. Ok now that that is out of the way , much like in years past sort through the genre lists before making the overall top ten of the year list. I know many of you are ready for 2020 to be over with. Hate to break it to you but nothing is getting better next year. As far as 2020 goes there is only a couple new bands on this list. 

 The fact these artists made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Sure you can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. However I listen to five new albums a day so yes I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No I do not care what you think about it .I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 Doom albums of 2020

10-Candlemass -"Pendulum"

This is more of an honorable mention. These guys continue to be great at what they do. They have stuck to their guns . It might not be the most original sound when it comes to Swedish doom but it shows the new kids what is up/ 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/03/candlemass-pendulum.html

9- Aeonian Sorrow

This band from Finland is more of a gothic doom band that is influenced by funeral doom. The vocals are off between the male and female, yes there is a classic My Dying Bride influence and yes I am ok with that as the new My Dying Bride was a disappointment , did I ever think I would make a doom list with out My Dying Bride on it, so what does that say? 

 

8-Mountaineer - "Bloodletting" 

The post rock always rings twice with this progressive doom band. These guys are in no way coping shit from Black Sabbath or for that matter Paradise Lost, Jesus feels like it is more of a influence with the depressive croon of the vocals. This is fucking beautiful. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/05/mountaineer-bloodletting.html

 

7- Celestial Season - "the Secret Teachings" 

The melodic take on funeral doom this band from the Netherlands brings to the table has more than just a solid dose of goth to it. This is the album My Dying Bride wishes they put out this year. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/11/november-is-doom-celestial-season.html

6- Null- "Entity"

 Doom out of Iceland is a novel concept considering how they are known from for exporting black metal. There is plenty of black metal influence since these guys also play in Myspyring. The main mood is a dreary bleakness that is chilling. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/07/null-entity.html 

 

 

5-Paradise Lost - "Obsidian" 

They brought their goth side to the surface. In recent years they have worked off the death doom sound , even leaning more into the death metal side. This time they might have backed off the heavy to give the goth more room, and added to the weight of the songs in so doing. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/05/paradise-lost-obsidian.html

4- Draconian - " Under a Godless Veil" 

If I had known this band was going at it with the emotional and atmospheric intensity of the Gathering then I would have been listening to them more all this time. What matters is I am on the right page with them. While Paradise Lost put out a great album, it was a solid year for doom and this band brought a wider range to the table. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/11/november-is-doom-draconian-under.html

3-Dunwich- "Tail Tied Hearts" 

This Russian band is great. They blend an almost Rasputina like goth and set it against doom with black metal tendencies. Their singer really puts her voice to good uses going from a beguiling siren to shrieking witch. The mood is just right . This is the best band you do not know about.  

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/06/dunwich-tail-tied-hearts.html

  2- Pallbearer - " Forgotten Days" 

Yeah I know it is surprising they did not take the number one spot. It was a tough call and a great year for doom. I have listened and will continue to listen to this album a helluva lot. It stacks up against their already impressive body of work and in some ways is a return to the more metal sound of their first album.

  https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/10/pallbearer-forgotten-days.html

 

1- Witnesses - "Doom II"

The question many, myself included might ask in regards to how these guys took the top spot over Pallbearer can best be answered by saying.. they took more chances. It would have been easy to put out a typical funeral doom album with low growled vocals . They got a guy who is not even a metal singer. This breathed new life into the genre as the melodies and approach are way different to an emotional level as to what is refreshing and new about their sound. More than just melancholy or morning their is a desperation that is real and with little pageantry. Pallbearer made a great Pallbearer album, but it is hardly growth on this level. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/05/witnesses-doom-ii.html

Mix Tape Mania - Summer Edition

Cognitive Behavorial Therapy teaches distraction as a tool to deal with distress tolerance. Aside from masturbation music is one of the best forms of distraction. In fact some days all I need is to have my soundtrack reset. Considering the stressors from the outside world these days we need many sound track resets, almost on a daily basis. So if the batteries are dead or lube has been squeezed dry, these songs might help. All of them but one are from 2020, and the song that is from 2019 is still less than a year old so it might stilll have that new car smell.






Carpenter Brut : "Gone now "


 



Nadine Shah : Ladies For Babies "


 


 Sound VVitch : "Like Leather, Like Flesh"


 

 Mushroom Head : "Heresy"


 


 Paradise Lost - "Ending Days"


 


 Mrs. Piss -"You Took Everything"


 


Strvngers- "Crucifixx"



 


Charli XCX- "C.20"


 


 Katatonia : "Neon Epitaph"


 


 Igorrr- "Downgrade Desert"



 

the Top 10 Metal Albums of 2020 ...so far

`

The year is half way gone. So far it has been a very metal year. Some of you have been running scared and hate to think of this as metal, but in doing so proved how metal you are not .  Death, destruction, looming apocalypse, mass anger and chaos... all very metal. I guess we see who has not been paying attention to lyrics as they are now hiding under their beds. Who knows if  music industry is going to recover. Arest of humanity and wiped from the dying earth. Accepting this fact is metal, It has been a fun run guys . But now let us move onto why you clicked . These albums are ranked in order of how much I have listened to them.

You are crying about an album you think I have missed. Chances are unless it sucked really bad  and I could not get through more than a song I reviewed it and was not all that impressed. I have albums coming out in August in my in-box already so I am way ahead of the curve, so this might be more prophetic of the year's best than in years before, considering how  bands can not tour to support releases , many are being delayed .  Who knows if King Diamond is going to come out ? So is this as good as 2020 is going to get ? I think not just in terms of music the answer is yes. Half of you might kill yourselves after what is going to happen in November, If you follow me on social media you know I am getting my transmissions from the aliens which are now even clearer since I am off my meds , but I have been pretty spot on in my predictions so far. It pays to be crazy these days.

10- Temple of the Void- "the World That Was" 

 So densely heavy, this might be a flawless album in it's execution, not something I pop in for casual listening or getting much air time walking to the gym as it can be a lot for my ears to swallow, but never the less deserves mention here. To their credit they draw from more than your typical death doom influences.


 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/03/temple-of-void-world-that-was.html

9- Testament - "Titans of Creation"


 It goes to show you never know what is going to come out , as they first few listens to this album and I would have assumed it was going to dominate the year. While it is impressive that this late in their career the band continues to put out shit that is this good, the albums that ranked higher so far made me want to listen to them more. Perhaps it will grow on me and fare better by the end of the year, but considering how much music I ingest on a daily, number 9 on any list is impressive.


 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/03/testament-titans-of-creation.html

8-Havok- "V"


I dod not cover much thrash, as I shared my thoughts on the best of it back in high school, most of the revivalists of this genre, missed out the first go round and I have heard it done better by bands who cared about songs. These guys prove an exception to the rule as they care about songs, and write songs that are fitting of the time we live.



https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/05/havok-v.html

 7-Witchskull - "A Driftwood Cross" 

 This is an album that has clawed it's way up the list after repeat listens. Only moderate Sabbath worship that is balanced out by a grungey sound that is all their own. More upbeat that most doom, but the riffs are hard to argue with.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/04/witchskull-driftwood-cross.html

6-(16) - "Dream Squasher" 

These Volatile sludge merchants are back and angry as ever. These guys are the brand of sludge more
closely aligned with noise rock than doom. You can  also hear some hard core influence in their more explosive moments. I like the effects on the vocals . Lyrically it reminds me of the Melvins in their chaotic musings


https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/05/16-dream-squasher.html

5-Umbra Vitae- " Sahdow of Life" 


 Jacob from Converge decided to put together a death metal band so he enlisted  guitarists from Hatebreed and the Red Chord, along with the ex- drummer from Job For a Cowboy and the bassist from the Red Chord. It's not pure death metal. The drummer is the only one from a dyed in the wool death metal band as the Red Chord brought other elements into play. This works in the band's favor


 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/05/umbra-vitae-shadow-of-life.html

4- Demons & Wizards - "III" 

My bad, I have never given this band the shot they deserve. They not only proved themselves with this come back album, but secure themselves threirthrone at the peak of the genre. Most power metal is not dark enough , so these guys show you how it can be done. https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/02/demons-wizards-iii.html

3- Paradise Lost - "Obsidian"

This album finds the band raising the bar on themselves  and telling their "Medusa" album to hold their beer. More doom paced than death metal. It is not as heavy as "Medusa" , but darker and more melodic with the song writing  totally blowing my mind. Getting more gothed out is certainly a good way to sell me on it.


 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/05/paradise-lost-obsidian.html br /







2-Witnessess-"Doom II"

 Best described as progressive doom, this album is not afraid to go somewhere metal often does not venture.Often thanks to the highly polished and evocative vocals. There is little bong worship going on here and even less worship of Black Sabbath. Yeah the songs are long and winding but still keep you drawn into them and continue to grow on you, so much so that it edged out Paradise Lost.


 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/05/witnesses-doom-ii.html

1-Code Orange- "Underneath" 


 No they did not turn into an industrial band. Yes there are more electronic influences, but the kick in the death they deliever with the heavy as hell guitar sound is still their , just done with more melody in places and darkly bleaker. A tremendous dynamic range to the songwriting finds the band stepping up once more to the next level

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2020/03/code-orange-underneath.html <

Paradise Lost : "Obsidian"

2017 found Paradise Lost returning to kick a bunch of ass and show the would be death doom bands how it is done. It is more likely a coincidence but since it's released there has been a deluge of death doom bands. This album finds the band raising the bar on themselves  and telling their "Medusa" album to hold their beer. More doom paced than death metal. It is not as heavy as "Medusa" , but darker and more melodic with the song writing  totally blowing my mind. They have expanded upon the more Type O Negative side of the band. "Ghosts" finds a more rock n roll mood rising up rising up and their drummer is really killing it on this songs. Yea this time around when I said the album is darker I meant goth. If you know me then you know I grew up a poor goth child so this is the shit I living dead for.

They have not gone full on Sisters of Mercy. There is a good balance between the macabre and having metallic balls. It is much more prominent than on not only the previous album, but most of the post "Draconian Times : albums . They are more straight forward metal on "Serenity" but not picking up the pace so much that it knocks them out of being doom., It still evolves into darker atmosphere. "Ending Days" has almost a Katatonia feel to it.  Holmes' voice has never sounded better, I guess doing double duty in Bloodbath he gets more than his fair share of growling so he wanted to sing some. They return to a more rock n roll direction with on "Hope Dies Young". Still dark, just more up beat and very melody driven .

They balance the rock n roll moments with going more metal on " Ravenghast" where the vocals do kind of a good cop / bad cop turn, growled on the verse and sung on the chorus. The gloomy guitars lines help make the song., I typically do not include the bonus tracks in my review, but these two songs are just as good as the others. In fact "Hear the Night " is drearier than the other songs, falling more in line with traditional doom, "Defiler" is more death n roll. It has a very deliberate stomp. Without question I will give this album a 10 . It's song writing is some of the bands best. It might not be their heaviest album in fact it is not as heavy as "Medusa" but it is more melodic and makes it an album worth listening to again and again. Out on Nuclear Blast.



 

Frontline Assembly : " Wake Up the Coma"

The project's 20th album finds them pumping out what you would want from them. Aggressive dystopian dance music with slithering grooves. The first departure from their tried and true formula is on their cover of Falco's " Rock Me Amadeus" with Jimmy Urine from Mindless Self Indulgence on vocals. Things get darker on "Tilt" that almost borders on dark wave. It's amazing that 20 albums later these guys are still making things that sound fresh. By fresh the nature of the genre certainly owes much of it's identity to the 90s . These songs don't seem like a total plea for nostalgia and work in 2019. Then again I about a drug store trip away from dyeing my hair black on any given Friday so I am partial to this sound. I would think if you are taking the time to read this review you probably are as well.

I really dig the synth sounds on this album. They are mean and dark. The vocals are in that whispered rasp. They drops down to a lower more gritty spoken tone. Almost sung , but not quite. "Hatevol" is the first song that comes closest to being the more run of the mill 90s industrial. I think there is enough love in the song writing to keep it from defaulting to that. The sheen dulls a little on the marginally more upbeat "Proximity". They coming back bumping really hard on "Living a Lie" that has a more aggro beat reminding me of KMFDM. Nick Holmes from Paradise Lost sings on the title track, which is not as heavy as you would think it might be with him on the track. It's more like Gary Numan.

There is more of a techno pulse to " Mesmerized". Though it's darker than your typical Lords of Acid song more on par with My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult. It is not the album's strongest song , but it still works with what they do. Right from the first few bars it is obvious that "Negative Territory is a better. It's more melodic and moodier. "Structures" is fine for what it is. It doesn't feel as inspired as the previous song, but better than any pretenders to their throne. The pairing with Chris Connelly  is pretty smooth. Connelly who now fronts a Bowie tribute band called Sons of the Silent Age, tries to use his best Bowie croon. It sounds more like late 90s Bowie. I'll give this album a 9.5 , it's going be hard for other industrial bands to beat this one this year.

Bloodbath - "the Arrow of Satan is Drawn"

A death metal super group of sorts that features members of Opeth, Katatonia and Paradise Lost. This release feels like there is more heft than the first one that featured the Paradise Lost vocalist. They get real fucking serious on the weighty grind driving "Bloodicide". Sometimes it sounds like they almost feel obligated to speed things up.These songs work better when they are hitting you with more of a Celtic Frost feel. The chugs can be massive here and the guitar tone is just sick. Lyrically it's all a mute point and almost a heavy metal parody."Wayward Samaritan ' has an almost rock n roll feel like a Slipknot song gone off the rails and a more death metal vocal. You can kinda hear more of the doomy old Katatonia sound in "Leviator" . It has a lot of punch to it, but there is something angular and awkward about the riff. There is no mistaking the fact that the song's strongest moments are the ones that bear the most likeness to Morbid Angel.

"Deader" is pretty straight forward and grinding, not saying it's grindcore, it just feels like that is what the riff is doing. There is less punishment though "March of the Crucifers" has a massive wall of density that almost grooves. Midway into this album and I am pretty certain it's heavier than their previous album. Not a deal sealer with me as I don't live off heaviness alone, but know that new will thrill fans of the band and death metal in general. By the time we get to "Morbid Antichrist" it's beginning to take on a more uniform sound to me. I will give them credit these songs are all very compact and hit you hard and then are over , not droning or drawing anything out to make the attack more urgent. There is another hint of rock n roll to "Warhead Ritual". Not that they are turning into the Rolling Stones, their is just more of a melodic nuance than pure sonic violence death metal is known for.

The syncopated stomp of "Only The Dead Survive" is pretty powerful and also allows for a vulgar display of double bass. Considering what big pussies Opeth has become it's good to hear that their drummer still has metal in his heart and is just collecting a pay check. Even though it does not possess the dense heaviness of the previous song "Chainsaw Lullaby" has more grit to it. It might not be reinventing death metal but this song gives most fans of the genre what they are looking for in a manner that is brutal, but still done with a musical sense of class. I can hear touches of Entombed in what they are doing, but I guess that comes with your blood if you are from Sweden, it's better than if they sounded like Dark Tranquility. I'll give this album an 8.5 it's a very solid piece of death metal and fans of this band will be pleased it is one of their heaviest albums yet.

Top 10 Death Metal Albums of 2017

So let's go ahead and get a few things out of the way, while there is a balance between the old guard and some newer faces, the old guard was disappointing this year. Albums by Cannibal Corpse, Obituary and Incantation, all sounded like lets dial one in so we can go on tour. So these albums had to be more inspired than those. Not a lot to ask. For most part I defaulted to what Last Fm said I listened to the most this year. I did however include reasons why certain bands ranked over other ones, to clear that up. There will be no weak ass noodling tech death on this list, so if that what you want go put the death in metal and suck on a shotgun. Here you go...

10-Cannabis Corpse -"Left Hand Pass"

 This band might have started off as a joke, but they have evolved into a punchline into something pretty bad ass. They have a great guitar and command you to bang your head on groove the verse of the opening song hits. They can revert into death metal cliches at times , but that is still more than I expected from this band going into this album. This a side project of Land Phil from Municipal Waste and Iron Reagan. He is joined by other high ranking metal pedigree such a members of Six Feet Under, Gatecreeper and Arsis. So when they lock into a chug is pretty devastating. There are some interesting effects applied to the guitar at times which provide some ambiance, as death metal themed around smoking pot needs plenty of that.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/09/cannabis-corpse-left-hand-pass.html

9-Jordablod- "Upon My Cremation Pyre"


 Imagine if you can a death metal band from Sweden who is not trying to be Entombed or At the Gates. The band from southern Sweden is not trying to emulate Entombed. There are some guitar passages that work together to breathe a sense of melody into things. The solos often lingers past the allocated sections. This is done with a very organic sense to both the tones on the album and the arrangements. They walk the line between death metal and black metal in a manner not unlike their country men in Tribulation.Though they are heavier than Tribulation's more recent efforts carrying a complex density that makes you take them more seriously than Cannabis Corpse.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/04/jordablod-upon-my-cremation-pyre.html

8- Forgotten Tomb- "We Owe You Nothing"

 This band from Italy has changed greatly over the years. The went from being an almost depressive black metal band to a doomy sludge band and now to thrashy grooved death metal. This is their 9th album so something would be wrong if it was not as dialed in production wise as it is. In fact the sharper distortion of the crisp production leads you to believer these riffs  owe as much to Pantera in places as the do Celtic Frost. There is a groove that is hard to deny or to not bang our head to.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/09/forgotten-tomb-we-owe-you-nothing.html

7--Ever Circling Wolves "Of Woe, or How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Gloom" 

 This band from Finland is certainly worth championing due to their originality. This doesn't mean they have forsaken key components for metal and twisted them into something no recognizable to the average metal head in a Morbid Angel t-shirt. After a three minute introductory instrumental that throw some melodic death metal at you that is mid to doom paced. The organic guitar tones allow the riffs to breathe and the notes to remain distinguishable. This ear for production that was put into the production of this album certainly lends it self to supporting their adventurous style of songwriting.This sense of adeventure is so great it propels them over Jordablod.


http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/01/ever-circling-wolves-of-woe-or-how-i.html

 


6- Ruins of Beverast- "Exuvia"

     This German project is back in less than  a years time with more music. This time it seems like things are going in a darker more death metal direction. The album Opens with the title track which finds this project feeling more like atmospheric death metal with major melodic touches. Clean sung vocals are sprinkled in. The guitar solos really rip as they take you on this incredible fog coated journey.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-ruins-of-beverast-exuvia.html

5-Acid Witch_"Evil Sound Screamers"


When this album kicks in the vocals don't follow a typical death metal grunt but have a fiendish cackle to them. The 60's keyboards add spooky camp, while their With a bass tone that reminds me of Acid Bath. They are aggressive enough to be death metal without forgetting about songwriting or just trying to bludgeon you.The Halloween theme works just as well for me in December as it did in October.

 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/10/gothtober-acid-witch-evil-sound.html

4-Paradise Lost- "Medusa"


Most metal bands will tell you their new album is heavier. From the sound of the first song this might be true. The sung goth vocals come in to bring them out of the more death metal direction it seems this album starts off in. There is a little more of a lumbering doom feel to "Gods of Ancient" due to the more mournful feel that competes with the aggression of the growled vocals. These guys are obviously old pros, the guitar tones are dialed in to give the needed crunch and the drums pack the punch  required for this kind of music though the double bass is mixed back a bit and doesn't trample you. It is the polish that coats every ounce of this album that beats out the rawer Acid Witch.


http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/07/paradise-lost-medusa.html

3-Belphegor- "Totenritual"

 These guys have always been a death metal band rather than black metal band.Though it is easy to see why they would appeal to fans of black metal They are now mired firmly in a more Morbid Angel form of tightly coiled dark death metal. Vocally there is trade off with the high snarl giving more of a call and response. This is extremely well produced, written and performed. There would be no excuse for it not to be considering these guys have been around since 1992. This is their 11th album, so not stranger to the studio. The show you can be extremely heavy and still write songs that demand repeat listens, this heaviness is what puts them over the more melodic Paradise Lost.


 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/09/belphegor-totenritual.html

2-Goatwhore- "Vengeful Ascension"


Sure there is not a wild deviation from their sound, but the song writing is more focused and highlights the band's strength and energy. This might also be one of the band's most melodic albums. It seems like they have more readily embraced their death metal side. So in the swirl of hybrid sub-genres that make this band up death metal is the predominant ingredient this go around. The second song "Under the Flesh, Into the Soul" finds more of the blackened thrash like sound that has colored the past two albums. There are some pretty hooky riffs, and it would make you think that my rule of "cool riffs alone , don't make a good song" would hit a band like this hard. This is not the case as a key component to their song writing is having every thing is the perfect place, which is why it beat out Belphegor.


 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/05/goatwhore-vengeful-ascension.html

1-Morbid Angel-"Kingdoms Disdained"

 This shows you that my initial response and review of an album sometimes needs time to soak in the full scope of what an album is about. With this one I had to get past the fact that this is not the classic line-up, but a line up that has made a new classic. While I have yet to go back and give the other Steve Tucker album's a second chance, I would find it hard to believe that they could come close to picking up where this album which is more bombastic than "Domination" picks up the torch. The post- "Domination" out put to me was hard to wrap my head around as being Morbid Angel, this album is clearly Morbid Angel, so when one of your favorite bands that your grew up with re-kindles the flame and takes you back to place in time, then they are edging out Goatwhore, though it's pretty neck and neck and one of the rare cases on this list where I actually listened to Goatwhore more, but Morbid Angel came out last month so it's almost not fair.


 http://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2017/11/morbid-angel-kingdoms-of-disdain.html