Album Review: Doomsday Sun – A Slow, Agonising Rapture (Self Released)

Hailing from Stoke-On-Trent in the UK, Doomsday Sun are a doom/death metal band who will release their debut album, ‘A Slow, Agonising Rapture’ on the 24th of August, 2024.

A heavy bar is set from the moment Hostile Takeover kicks in, but it’s more than just a cacophony of death and doom. Doomsday Sun borrow from a wider range of genres and blend everything together cleverly resulting in a seamlessly powerful listen that has hearty groove, progressive thinking, thrashy aspects, dirty grunge vibes, and so much more. As far as openers go, it’s a strong one.

Happily, it’s not a one-off and across the breadth of this album, Doomsday Sun continue to showcase immense power and poise. Things stay exciting and interesting with Hearts Bleed Gold, a track with serious riffing, and Fool’s Mythology, a track that balances the different eras of doom with intensifying bursts of heavy. Some guitar soloing and psych touches proving to be the cherry on top. So far, so very exceptional.

With things already feeling quite substantial, it’s no surprise that Illusion of Joy begins in ‘thick’ fashion. Yet, this is a track with a bit more creativity about it, and Doomsday Sun expand upon their eccentric sonic palette here in impressive style. Leading to a lovable pair of head-bangers called Jaws of Love and Convict of the New Law. Before Living Effigy unleashes a bit more mania as Doomsday Sun showcase more energy and force feed a heftier vibe down throats.

Dark, moody and with just a tinge of psychedelia, it’s Utopian Blues and a chance to drink in a dramatic sound that has all the Doomsday Sun hallmarks they’ve showcased so far on this album. The heavier moments of this track sound phenomenal, especially because they’ve been built up so effectively. Then, to bring some vitality back to things, along comes Exterminate All the Brutes! A track that will make you move no matter what, and one that also has a pretty killer chorus.

Finally, to cap off a great debut record, it’s the title track and Another Day, Another Horror. The former, Doomsday Sun at their most elaborate and progressive sounding. That it also nearly hits the seven-minute mark is immaterial when it is as captivating as it is. Notably this also applies to the finale too, which is even longer at nearly eight minutes but with thick rivets of darkness and edifying heaviness throughout. A big and satisfying ending to a big and satisfying release.

Doomsday Sun – A Slow, Agonising Rapture Track Listing:

1. Hostile Takeover
2. Hearts Bleed Gold
3. Fool’s Mythology
4. Illusion of Joy
5. Jaws of Love
6. Convict of the New Law
7. Living Effigy
8. Utopian Blues
9. Exterminate All the Brutes!
10. A Slow, Agonising Rapture
11. Another Day, Another Horror

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