Doom Metal – Page 5 – Metal Eclipse Reviews

Hermyth – Aether

Pegah

Italian cosmic Doomgaze band Hermyth returns with its second album, Aether. In ancient science, “aether” is the fifth element—the essence that binds the other four, the very fabric of existence. Staying true to its name, Aether is a journey through transcendence, guidance, and spiritual ascension, woven into a rich tapestry of ethereal, grandiose, and melancholic soundscapes. The album’s cover art reflects this celestial mysticism, depicting an angel-like figure adrift among the stars against a vast black backdrop—evoking the feeling of being lost, or perhaps found, somewhere in the infinite cosmos.

Structure – Heritage

It’s been a bit of a slow year for Doom so far (hehe!), but maybe that’s about to change – because when you see Structure‘s Heritage cover art, you know there are only two ways this can go: breathtaking and unforgiving Death/Doom, or just a bloated, pretentious mess. There’s next to no middle ground when it comes to releases that take themselves this seriously, where everything feels personal and built through time and pain. There’s not much else I can say to introduce a project that promises so much from the start, yet we all know how full the world is of disappointment. So let’s see what we have here.

Serpent Rider – The Ichor Of Chimaera

It’s been a week full of high-profile releases. So much so that sometimes you lose perspective of what really matters—fami, the underground releases that, with sweat and tears, are trying to give us something different in this valley of darkness we call the world. Serpent Rider might have an angry name, The Ichor of Chimaera might have Black Metal-style art, but that doesn’t mean it can’t surprise us. In fact, I’d bet this is going to punch us all in the liver unexpectedly.

Inborn Suffering – Pale Grey Monochrome

Pegah

Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on Earth.

Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment

Matalobos – Phantasmagoria: Hexed Lands

Latinoamérica isn’t exactly known for its Death/Doom scene. If anything, the region is celebrated for its Thrash/Death and Power Metal traditions. So, in a way, Matalobos is carving out a path that, while well-trodden in other parts of the world, feels fresh and unexpected in warmer climates. Phantasmagoria: Hexed Lands is their attempt at crafting your typical Death/Doom experience but with a distinctly Mexican Folk touch—and that’s not something you see every day. Here at MER, we’re all about weirdness; in fact, the weirder, the better! (Note: Just sending me weird stuff won’t guarantee a great score, but it’ll certainly make me love the job more.)

Atramentum – The Wrath Within

Pegah

“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”

― Haruki Murakami

The Wrath Within is the second full-length album by the German Doom Metal band Atramentum. The album’s title reflects themes of inner turmoil and personal challenges. The cover art’s color palette complements this concept: red symbolizes anger, conflict, and bravery, while the black lines evoke grief, mourning, and death. The two wolves featured on the cover embody duality, representing opposing forces such as fear, anger, and sorrow versus love, hope, and peace.

Caprahed – Empire

Pegah

“If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face—forever.” ― George Orwell, 1984

True kvlt: Voragoth, The Host, Bleak Transcendence & Ice Chemicals

It’s Sunday again, which means it’s time to shine a spotlight on our beloved followers and friends who send us their creations every week. We could be like any other site and toss these submissions in the trash, but we (perhaps naively) believe in your capacity to surprise us. These aren’t massive releases, but they often sound like they could be. Let’s dive in!

Best Doom Metal Albums of 2024

Metalcatto

Here we are, about to start the countdown I’ve been dreading. Many of you voted on IG for a more comprehensive list instead of just a top 10 from me. Well, I owe everything to our readers, so here I am. Not every Metal subgenre will get its own list—doing that would take weeks—but I’ve chosen the ones that had the biggest impact this year. Sadly, no Thrash for 2024, but Doom’s incredible diversity makes it a perfect place to start. Doom is as broad as it gets, but every band in the genre follows one rule: play slow most of the time. That means Crypt Sermon’s excellent The Stygian Rose belongs in a Heavy Metal top instead. With that out of the way, let’s dive in!

Pegah’s top 10 albums of 2024

Pegah

Throughout 2024, I didn’t listen to many albums. I still haven’t explored most of the major releases of the year, choosing instead to immerse myself in underrated Doom Metal bands—those overlooked and forgotten in the vast waves of social media. I dedicated my time to reviewing these bands, striving to introduce them to a wider audience. Ranking them wasn’t easy, as they all hold a nearly equal place in my estimation. Still, I’ve done my best to assemble a top-10 list. Let’s dive into what I’ve brought together!