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@anneitiathegreenwitch
*taps* Is this thing on?
Life's been pretty crazy since my last appearance in 2020. School's been done since 2022, got into the witchy/pagan things, ended a longtime, long-distance relationship this past March. Even got out of retail for a bit!
For the forseeable future I'll have more free time on my hands, so maybe some reviews are a possibility. Thank you to everyone who's stuck by so far with all the inactivity!
Jupiterian - Protosapien (2020)
As you can probably tell by now, I’ve been binging doomy, sludgey metal that despite it being a bit slow, can still be overwhelmingly dark, gritty, and heavy. Brazil’s Jupiterian is no different. Forming in 2013, it took them a few releases to really get their stride (at least according to Encyclopaedia Metallum). It wasn’t until their 2017 release, Terraforming, that they really found their sound in this messy, heavy doom saturated in sludge that still somehow has a tinge of melody to it. Their most recent release, Protosapien, really shows them improving on what made their last release work so well.
The album opens with “Homecoming”, which really sets the stage on what they’ll sound like for the rest of the album. The song is quite successful in driving home this sense of impending doom, only to pummel you further with their more sludgey influences in “Mere Humans”. The rest of the songs really go on to showcase how comfortable they are in switching between doom, sludge, and dare I say death metal? They also show in songs like “Capricorn” and “Starless” they’re not afraid to bring these subgenres together to really create something murky and dirty, but oh so good!
Probably my biggest complaint is how short the album feels overall. While the individual songs are slightly longer than average, with them clocking in around the seven-minute mark, it almost felt jarring to have the album end at around 35 minutes. But then again, maybe that was intentional on their part – if it was, kudos to them! The only other complaint, if you want to call it that, is that I would’ve loved to hear more of the guitars, bass, and drums. I get it, both sludge and doom love creating that thick, fuzzy, almost monotonous white noise. But they’re clearly quite skilled and comfortable with their instruments during the solos and instrumental parts of the album. And while the vocals are solid too, they can easily blend in with the rest of the sound they’re going for. Overall, though, it doesn’t really change how positively I feel about this album – it’s more or less wishful thinking.
With Protosapien, I really feel like they’ve made something special. It might take a few years for people to recognize this, but this almost seems like a breath of fresh air into the sludge, doom, and sludge/doom subgenres. It’s got that nasty edge of sludge, the overwhelming sense of doom from doom, solid musicianship and also, a fantastic album cover. I’ll be really curious to see how and what people think of this album in the future. Either way, if you’ve been looking for some absolutely punishing underground metal, this is it.
Rating: 8.5/10
My Favourite Song(s): Homecoming, Mere Humans, Starless (though to be fair, you can’t go wrong with any of the songs on this album!)
Bands You May Also Like:
Eremit: German sludge/doom with a healthy dose of a “powerful yet epic” atmosphere. Their album Desert of Ghouls has been said to “send reverberations down your spine”. Although their songs are said to be longer, they’ve also been said to be able to grab your attention and keep it.
Soothsayer: Sharing the same label as Jupiterian (Transcending Obscurity) along with the same fusion genre, these Irish metallers bring in some extra atmosphere to their sludge/doom. Their EP, At This Great Depth, has been compared to “worlds crashing down on your beloved” with how “emotive and crushing” they are.
Subterraen: Hailing from France, and also hailing from the same label as Jupiterian, these guys add in some black metal to their sludge/doom. Their more recent material has been compared to feeling “claustrophobic, oppressive, and filled with smouldering rage at humanity’s never-ending greed”.
Time for a new name?
Thinking of changing the name of my blog -- I’ll still be doing metal reviews though! If you have any ideas, let me know.
Oceans of Slumber - S/T Album (2020)
So, it seems like many metal fans, like myself, have thankfully come across Oceans of Slumber recently. Why, you might ask? They recently dropped their third, self-titled album (via Century Media Records) – and let me tell you, the hype is worth it. After listening to it, I ended up going back in their catalog and checking out their previous release The Banished Heart. And although The Banished Heart is absolutely fantastic and worthy of all the praise it received, we’re not here to talk about that today…though I may get around to reviewing it at some point. However, that is all for another day.
For those uninitiated with Oceans of Slumber, here we go. They’re a progressive metal band based out of Houston, Texas, and formed in 2011. By 2013, they had self-released their debut Aetherial and by 2014 current vocalist Cammie Gilbert replaces Ronnie Allen. They signed with Century Media Records in 2015, and 2016 was marked by their tour with Ne Obliviscaris and Enslaved, along with their sophomore release Winter. Noisey has referred to Oceans of Slumber as a “female-fronted Opeth”. Although they’ve been on an upward trajectory since their debut, they haven’t quite broke through to the mainstream just yet – but their self-titled release might very well be the reason why they become more of a household name.
Now that we’re back to their newest release, one of the first thoughts I had was regarding the album art. It’s fantastic, dramatic, and immediately grabs your attention. To me at least, it indirectly hints at the epic and moody tones found throughout the album. Now that I come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve been so highly aware of the album art since listening to Bell Witch’s Mirror Reaper.
The album hits the ground running with ‘The Soundtrack to my Last Day’, and even with the bands doom-laden sound, doesn’t truly slow down until ‘Imperfect Divinity’. Don’t worry though, the album does pick up the speed later on in the album! Including the faster and slower parts also allows the band to exercise their full range of sound and influences, meaning we get to enjoy both the flavours of death metal and doom metal…without it feeling like a death-doom band. Though I will say this, slowing down really allows them to shine and show off the emotional depth of their songs.
Vocalist Cammie Gilbert is absolutely phenomenal – although she’s been bringing more of a soulful style of singing not commonly heard or seen in metal for quite some time, it really makes their self-titled album stand out. Her voice packs the emotional punch needed to pull off the variety of tempos and styles found throughout their album – and how she delivers the lyrics is quite fantastic too. For example, how she delivers the following lyrics on “Pray for Fire” just grabbed my attention every time I’ve gone through the album: “Now they pray for rain / But I am the coming storm”. Hell, even typing it out gives me chills!
If I’m going to be completely honest, I’m having a hard time thinking of negatives here. On occasion I zoned out during parts of the second half of the album, but got pulled back in with “The Red Flower”. This particular song really shows off their doomier side, and makes it their own. I guess the only other negative is that it well, ended.
I cannot repeat enough how happy I am to have come across Oceans of Slumber. I get my death-doom, doom/gothic, and powerhouse vocals fix all in one band, and in one album. I really hope this album (and their other ones too, they’re so good!) gets them the mainstream attention they deserve. Super excited to see where they’ll go in the future.
Rating: 9/10
My Favourite Songs: Pray for Fire, A Return to the Earth Below, The Adorned Fathomless Creation, The Red Flower
Bands You May Also Like: So, this part of my review’s going to be a bit more in-depth than how I previously did it. Instead of just whipping out bands and hoping you’ll check them out, now I want to explain why you should check them out. Just a heads up, due to Oceans of Slumber’s especially unique mix of influences, this list might be a little more all over the place than normal.
Pallbearer: Another excellent band hailing from the United States, these guys channel dark, dreary doom with a healthy dose of Ozzy Osbourne-sounding vocals. They seem on track to become underground darlings like YOB, and I personally don’t think they’ve made a bad release yet. 2017’s Heartless is absolutely solid.
Warning: These guys kind of straddle doom and gothic metal, but that’s okay. These guys are amazing at creating this dark, fuzzy, and depressing wall of sound – but aren’t afraid to get intimate in their songs. Although they’re not the most prolific band out there, 2006’s Watching from a Distance is a gem.
Insomnium: Melodic death metal giants Insomnium really capture the emotional side of metal, while keeping it heavy and occasionally catchy. Like bands like AC/DC and Lamb of God, you know what your getting with their albums sonically. While people like to poke fun at these guys having somewhat similar-sounding records, it’s a sound that works and keeps bringing people back.
Ne Obliviscaris: Australian group Ne Obliviscaris isn’t afraid to meld death metal, prog metal, and whatever the hell they feel like adding (I mean, have you heard the violins and other instruments they bring in?). 2017’s Urn is excellent, but you can’t really go wrong with their albums.
Honourable Mentions: Enslaved, My Dying Bride, Candlemass, Swallow the Sun
Paradise Lost - Obsidian (2020)
Sorry guys! I know it’s been quite awhile between reviews -- sadly life got a little hectic for me. Anyways, here we go!
Death-doom giants Paradise Lost are one of those bands that even though they formed in the 90s, they feel like they’ve been around forever. It’s likely because of how prolific they’ve been, churning out albums every two to three years – and also having several ‘eras’ in regards to their sound. Some eras were more well received than others, but that didn’t seem to phase the band.
Fast forward to 2020, and despite there being a pandemic going on, they chose to release Obsidian rather than delay it – as band member Nick Holmes stated: "As a global crisis, it goes without saying COVID-19 has affected everyone and everything, including every aspect of the music industry. As a result, our record label Nuclear Blast offered us the chance to postpone the launch of our latest album 'Obsidian' to a less volatile time later in the year. Taking this into consideration, and the fact the live music circuit is currently in lockdown, we think it's unnecessary to postpone the release as we think our fans wouldn't want to wait. Music can be enjoyed in practically any environment, so therefore we are going ahead with the same release date 15.5.20, and we sincerely hope our new album helps to lift your spirits, and is a beacon of light in the dark during these uncertain times! Thanks for your continuous support through the years and see you on the road!"
And I’m likely not the only one who will say this, but thank god they didn’t delay it! I haven’t gushed about an album being this good in ages, likely when I last talked about Machine Head’s The Blackening, or Wintersun’s Time I. One comment that’s been consistent and that I 100% agree with is that Obsidian brings together all the eras of Paradise Lost, with a touch of something new, yet it doesn’t feel stale or forced. It feels both familiar yet brand new, bringing in both new fans but not forgetting their long-time fans.
Opening track ‘Darker Thoughts’ is easily one of the strongest songs on the album and is set to become an instant classic. It was able to go from a soft acoustic intro to the heavy death-doom sound they’ve finessed over the years flawlessly. ‘Ghosts’ invokes the sense of impending doom with its not-so-subtle religious underpinnings. Of course, I really enjoyed how heavy ‘The Devil Embraced’ was and ‘Forsaken’ was just catchy as hell. I really don’t think I have much to say in terms of negative things about the album. Although I would argue that the album in its entirety is quite strong, I enjoyed the first half more than the second half. Nothing against the second of the album, but that could be just my ADHD kicking in.
Overall, super solid album. I wouldn’t be surprised if Obsidian is a strong contender for ‘Album of the Year’ lists, and I’m SO happy this album sold as well as it did.
Rating: 9/10
My Favourite Songs: Darker Thoughts, Ghosts, The Devil Embraced, Ravenghast
Bands You May Also Like: So, this part of my review’s going to be a bit more in-depth than how I previously did it. Instead of just whipping out bands and hoping you’ll check them out, now I want to explain why you should check them out.
My Dying Bride: if Paradise Lost is a bit too “light” for you, but you dig the sound, My Dying Bride takes it a step further. Their most recent album, The Ghost of Orion (2020) is an absolute banger, I might get around to reviewing it later.
Insomnium: These guys are more melodeath than death-doom, but they nail that same dark, angsty feeling Paradise Lost do. Any of their albums will do.
Swallow the Sun: Again, if you need something a little heavier, these guys are perfect for you. They incorporate some elements from extreme metal, primarily black metal. Emerald Forest and the Blackbird (2012) is a classic, but I also dig their newest release When a Shadow is Forced Into the Light (2019).
Katatonia: Although they’re more gothic rock than metal these days, you’ll probably enjoy these guys too. The Great Cold Distance (2006) and Dead End Kings (2012) are fantastic.
Tribulation: I’m throwing in a fifth band because these guys deserve it. They’re more death metal than doom-death, but haven’t shied away from bringing in gothic sounds more traditionally seen in doom, doom-death, and gothic metal. Down Below (2018) is SO good.
Windhand’s ‘Eternal Return’ (2018)
Windhand is an American metal band based out of Richmond, Virginia that formed in 2008. Their self-titled debut was released in 2012, and fast-forward six years, and we see the release of their fourth album, Eternal Return. Windhand keeps a foot in both doom and stoner metal -- never quite falling into either category, but rather blending the two into something new and exciting. Reception towards Eternal Return was generally positive, with many noting the improvements and general evolution of both their production and overall sound. This is also the first album without founding member Asechiah Bogdan on guitars.
Compared to previous albums, the vocals are more distinct from the rest of the band, which really allows vocalist Dorthia Cottrell to shine. However, they’ve continued that dreamy, psychedelic feel fans have grown to know and love. The guitar tone is gritty, fuzzy, and so, so heavy. As well, the guitar riffs can be super heavy and almost groovy in a way – as seen on songs such as ‘Halcyon’ and ‘Grey Garden’. ‘Pilgrim’s Rest’ is much more laid back and softer, experimenting with acoustic sounds. On the other hand, ‘Light Into Dark’ really brings together all the facets they explored in the first half of the album, and improves on it. The second half of the album gets slower and heavier, showing us their doom metal influences. While I loved how slow ‘Eyeshine’ got, it does feel a bit like the second half of the album runs out of steam. While they did explore their sound a bit with Eternal Return, they kept it safe and stuck with what they knew best. In my opinion, as much as I would’ve loved to see them experiment more, it was probably a smart move on their part. Eternal Return still sounds distinctly like Windhand, and they did experiment enough to show us what they’re capable of. ‘Feather’ is a solid song to end the album with, exploring both the more mellow sound found on ‘Pilgrim’s Rest’ and blending it flawlessly with the heavier sounds found throughout the album.
My biggest complaint, and I’m not even sure if I would call it a complaint, is what they did musically throughout the album. I can put this album on, zone out and not even realize where I am in the album. Even when it ends about an hour later, I’m almost sad in a sense. Although each song is both distinct and distinctly Windhand, they blend in with each other flawlessly. Even the weaker songs on the album, such as ‘Red Eye’ and ‘Diablerie’ are still fairly good. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this album. Although not perfect (but is anything truly perfect?), this album definitely got me into the band, and is also one of the bands that got me excited about doom metal, stoner metal, and sludge metal. I’m super excited to see where they’ll go with future releases.
Rating: 8/10
My Favourite Songs: Halcyon, Grey Garden, Eyeshine, Feather
Bands You May Also Like:
So, this part of my review’s going to be a bit more in-depth than how I previously did it. Instead of just whipping out bands and hoping you’ll check them out, now I want to explain why you should check them out.
Torche: These guys are more stoner/sludge metal, but don’t shy away from incorporating progressive elements in their music. And no, they don’t sound like similar acts such as Mastodon. I read a comment somewhere (probably YouTube to be honest) that “no one seems to dislike Torche”, and I feel like this is pretty accurate. Their 2019 release Admission is a solid album.
Yob: These guys are amazing. Although they’re more doom metal than stoner metal, they’re still unafraid to dabble in that psychedelic sound. They’re a little heavier, a little grittier, but oh so good if Windhand is your cup of tea. Our Raw Heart (2018) is set to become a doom metal classic.
Bell Witch: If doom metal is more your cup of tea, this band is an excellent example of funeral doom. Their 2017 release Mirror Reaper is an almost hour and a half long song (yes, one song!) released as an album. It also serves as an amazing, emotionally raw tribute to death of their former drummer Adrian Guerra.
Already posted this to my Facebook but this is too good not to share again
Aaaannd I’m back!
After what feels like forever, I’m making a return to Tumblr with reviews and shizz! It might have taken a pandemic to make this happen, but here we are...
Might be a little bit before reviews start appearing -- need to figure out what bands to check out, and also thesis things!
Tyrol - Winterlandschaft (by photofalk)
(via 35PHOTO - Svetoslav - No title)
I'm Alive!
I'm sorry I've disappeared off the face of the Earth. University has been CRAZY (in all the right ways) and between little spare time and sucky Wi-Fi, I haven't been able to put in much time to my Tumblr.
So, my early New Year's resolution is to start putting in time and love to restoring my blog to its former glory.
Cheers everyone, have a great holiday!
It’s back! Canada’s Luckiest Student 2 is now live at http://luckie.st/CLS2TWO.
Do you know a Canadian student who could use $20,000 for school and a bunch of awesome prizes? Please share this!
darkfreezingmoon:
“So, how do you like your cornflakes, ya know? Do you like ‘em carrispy, or you like ‘em suft?” -Varg Vikernes
“It’s best when they’re really suft. You have to put the milk, and let it just rest for a while and THEN you eat it.” -Fenriz
