Officium Triste / Ophis - Immersed (Memento Mori, 2012)

Track Listing:

Officium Triste

1. Repent (6.16)
2. Bittersweet Memories (10.57)

Ophis

3. Storm Of Shards (10.23)
4. The Mirthless (12.26)

Synopsis: This split features two doom bands that I have listened to for some time, Officium Triste from Holland and Ophis from Germany, both of which have differing takes on the style. Of the two, Officium Triste are the more melancholic as each of their songs are built around keyboards and gloomy melodies that convey emotion and loss. Ophis, on the other hand, are less refined yet far more crushing as they rely less on melody and more on slow, primal riffing that gives a sense of anger and frustration rather than melancholy. I don't buy too many split releases but this was one I had to have and it was well worth the investment.

http://www.officiumtriste.com/

http://www.ophisdoom.de/

Consummatum Est - Hypnagogia (Silent Time Noise, 2010)

Track Listing:

1. Dolls And Ravens (12.17)
2. Hypnagogic Prospectus (12.17)
3. Consummatum Est (14.37)
4. Vertebra (11.15)

Synopsis: Consummatum Est can readily be deemed a funeral doom band and, whilst the term gothic is often used in relation to the style, "Hypnagogia" certainly lives up to that description such is the nature of the music. There are still some reminders of their blackened past throughout as each song ebbs and flows between metallic and quieter moments that are generally well integrated, particularly the female vocals and keys. Dark and atmospheric, "Hypnagogia" is an intriguing effort that does succeed in creating it's own identity within an established framework.

www.myspace.com/consummatumest

Carach Angren - Where The Corpses Sink Forever (Season Of Mist, 2012)

Track Listing:

1. An Ominous Recording (1.58)

2. Lingering In An Imprint Haunting (5.04)

3. Bitte Totet Mich (5.03)

4. The Funerary Dirge Of A Violinist (8.04)

5. Sir John (4.27)

6. Spectral Infantry Battalions (2.04)

7. General Nightmare (4.19)

8. Little Hector, What Have You Done? (4.55)

9. These Fields Are Lurking (Seven Pairs Of Demon Eyes) (7.15)

Synopsis: There is something very theatrical about "Where The Corpses Sink Forever" and I must admit that I am somewhat unsure what I think of it even after quite a few listens. Carach Angren tell tales through black metal and embellish it with orchestration almost to the point where the metal is an after thought. This isn't to say the songs themselves are mundane, it is clear a great deal of thought has gone into the composition, but at times I found myself craving more aggression such as "Bitte Totet Mich" where they show how good it can be. Carach Angren provide a metallic soundtrack to an unfolding nightmare of their own design, one that is definitely worth consideration.

http://www.carach-angren.nl/

Fetus Stench - Stillbirth (Abyss Records, 2012)

Track Listing:

1. Meat Grinder Flesh Obliteration (4.29)
2. Stillborn Son (3.35)
3. Brennkommando (3.54)
4. The Outer Island (4.26)
5. Severe Suffering (3.30)
6. Necrosis (2.23)
7. Bashed, Defaced And Disfigured (4.52)
8. Descending Into The Realm Of The Dead (5.32)
9. By Butchery Divorced (4.57)

Synopsis: Fetus Stench are in no way ambiguous and their debut album "Stillbirth" certainly makes its purpose quite clear from the outset, this is death metal pure and simple. Despite being Swedish they have, thankfully, not taken the "old school" route that is so popular these days choosing instead to have a more contemporary sound that is simple in intent and effective in execution. Sure, Fetus Stench aren't pushing any boundaries but that really isn't the point. "Stillbirth" looks good, is well written and is damn heavy, what more could you ask for?

www.facebook.com/fetusstench

Ahab - The Giant (Napalm, 2012)

Track Listing:

1. Further South (8.55)
2. Aeons Elapse (12.44)
3. Deliverance (Shouting At The Dead) (7.52)
4. Antarctica (The Polymorphess) (11.45)
5. Fathoms Deep Below (9.07)
6. The Giant (10.36)
7. Time's Like Molten Lead (11.02)

Synopsis: Admittedly, despite my love of doom, I haven't managed to invest in the two previous releases by Ahab so their latest, "The Giant", is my first encounter with their music and it is certainly a positive one. They have taken a different direction with the artwork on this one, gone are the classic nautical paintings that adorned their previous works, which is a big change for sure. Ahab manage to create doom that can, like the ocean that serves as their subject matter, be quiet one minute and angry the next wrapped an organic production that suits it perfectly. With such intelligent song writing "The Giant" is a doom album with a difference and tangible depth. 

http://www.ahab-doom.de/