Album Review: Dark Doom – The Journey (Marwolaeth Records)

Dark Doom presents its second album ‘The Journey’ via Marwoleath Records out on June 12th. ‘The Journey’ presents Dark Doom at its most foreboding yet. Having broadened his shoulders and cut his teeth with last years ‘Dust’, Alex Wills has sculpted his past labours and miserable burdens into something much more majestic, that which closer depicts the project’s moniker more than ever before.

The design is that of a sharpened focus, a bitter, largely melodious respite from modern life. That whose journey crosses the paths of Depressive and atmospheric black metal victoriously into murky fathoms of Death/Doom. Atop the highest peak, Dark Doom once again rains fire and misery upon the mass below, as an exalted invitation to his most desperate Journey.

Atmospheric black metal, in strength abundant, in solace bereft.

With furious righteousness and unparalleled atmospheres, Dark Doom bring us a record that is cold and harsh but not without depth and feeling. It has heart, it has emotions and it has beauty layered throughout.

Taking us through the highs and lows of what the best of atmospheric black metal can give, Spectre is is a gob-smacking start. The depressive melodies mixed wonderfully with the horror of blackened death and the intensity of doom’s slower pacing.

Sigil and Portal and Ancient keep things fast, heavy and so damn memorable. A trio of hard hitting and bleak black metal tracks. Little in the way of atmospherics, more based in the crunching heaviness of hell.

The atmosphere does make its return for Wilderness as it builds towards a simply spectacular level of brutality. The scarring vocals, the filthy black metal rhythm and the thumping savagery of death. Wonderful.

Dark Doom – The Journey Full Track Listing:

1. Spectre
2. Sigil
3. Portal
4. Ancient
5. Wilderness

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