Obligatory Holiday Post

     This is how Christmas themes should be incorporated into heavy metal.  Have a doom filled Christmas! 

Do The World a Favour and Start a Doom Metal Band.

Why is it that Doom Metal seems to be pushed to the wayside so often? Oh yes, I always see people discuss it in at least one token thread on every online metal forum and there are some bands with relative popularity. (Candlemass - duh, St. Vitus, Cathedral, and especially if you want to count Black Sabbath) However, in real life (my boring reclusive life at least) it rarely seems to come up when I'm talking with my metalhead buds or when I meet someone new (which is seldom anyway).

Even in the digital realm Doom Metal doesn't get the representation other genres do. There are the hardcore die-hard fans of course (http://doom-metal.com/) but there doesn't seem to be a lot of casual doom listeners floating around.

Metal blogs and forums are always choked with and endless barrage of black or death metal discussion:
 "<3 Burzum" "Check out this shitty black metal band, so fvcking vndergrovnd!!!!" "Obscure brutal death metal from (shithole country)". etc. etc. etc.
Metal Archives lists 19,886 black metal bands and a whopping 28,035 death metal bands in existence! Doom metal has a lowly 6,120 entries.

Now I love black metal and death metal... but how many more drum machine bedroom fuzzfests do we really need? I've been told really bad bedroom funeral doom is a growing trend now too, but I think it's far from being an epidemic like shitty black and death metal has become.

I don't know why so few are motivated to play Doom. There's the apparent lack of listeners, but there'll always be the few dedicated fans in the underground, and more good bands can only lead to more people hearing of and giving Doom a shot. The "slowness" and the lack of showing off one's ubershredzskillz may be offputting to some, but anyone who makes or listen to music as art and not a theatrical side show should be able to see the merits of Doom metal. It may be incredibly inaccessable, even for fans of the already inaccessble(ish) genre of metal as a whole, but it's not too hard to acclimatize one's self to this awesome music.

Start with this:

Then this:

Then this:

Then just keep going! See? You too can enjoy Doom metal. You don't have to be a fat neckbeard stoner piece of shit, you just have to like metal and appreciate good art! Now, round up your buddies, start a Doom band and get it out there! I don't want Doom to be the next big thing, but a bit more recognition in the underground would be awesome. The day I get a message saying "Review my Epic/Trad Doom band from (shithole country)" is the day my faith in humanity is restored. (a little...)     

Posted by Tex.                           

Spotlight: Estatic Fear

     I was honestly a tad bit surprised when I managed to find this song in its entirety on youtube, not only is this TFU (true fucking underground) it is brilliant music that deserves way more attention.  The length of this song seems is very daunting at first, but if you are the type of person that enjoys listening to albums from start to finish it really shouldn't be much of a problem.

     There are several ways to write an "epic" song.  You can follow the "progressive rock" format "Rush" set out; with "The Fountain of Lameth" and "2112." Which is essentially stringing 5 or 6 songs together with the same theme.  This is  by far the easiest way of composing this type of song.  Another common method is beginning with one theme and gradually expanding on it in a "stream of consciousness" format, with very little repetition.  One melody will gradually turn into a totally different melody.  This is commonly enacted by bands like "Esoteric" and "Skepticism." It is much more challenging to write a song in this style effectively, but if done properly creates an amazing atmosphere.  

     The interesting thing about "Somnium Obmutum" is that it fits into both of the aforementioned categories.  Rather than having several songs with no breaks in between "Estatic Fear" choose to bridge many short song together with interludes that become so interwoven it's hard to tell when one song stops and the next begins making this song feel more like one entity.  It is very difficult to place this band in a specific genre category due to the shear volume of influences present.  Although there are many symphonic instruments, they seem to function simply as instruments, rather than a backdrop for the "metal."  I find it very interesting how the symphonic instruments come into play, it almost feels like traditional folk/classical with metal influences, rather than the reverse.

     Although this is an amazing musical achievement for this band, there are a few downfalls.  The most noticeable problem is that "starts" and "stops" occur far too frequently.  There are many sections in the song where the music will stop abruptly and only one instrument will play.  After the single instrument plays for a short while the music abruptly starts again, disrupting the flow and preventing this work from becoming a true masterpiece.

     It is shame that this band split up, I believe that they had the potential to create something truly magnificent, instead we just have something that is exceptionally good.  I would recommend this album to anyone who enjoys epic music, metal or otherwise.

Amputation Spree - Terminal Velocity (Curt's Review)

     Amputation Spree are a Brutal Death Metal project from the united states, there is only one member; Spencer Van Dyk, who also plays guitar in another band called "Acrasia."  I hate to say it but I much prefer the music in Acrasia and after listening to them I realize that Spencer is not living up to his full potential.

     When I first heard the name of this EP I was expecting something a lot different from what I actually heard.  Terminal Velocity is the speed an object reaches when it cannot physically go any faster due to the forces acting on it.  Keeping this in mind I expected to hear some really fast music.

     The EP opens up with a really cool synth melody that wouldn't be out of place on a funeral doom album, the guitars quickly come in and deliver some slow crushing riffing which doesn't actually build up to anything.  Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of cool riffs present, but it always stays at the same slow to mid pace level.  I would personally really like to hear some blasting and some tremolo riffs to add a little bit of chaos to the mix.  The whole time I am listening to this I am feeling like it is building up to a climax that never actually happens.

     There are some positive attributes to this EP as well.  The production is thick and crushing and works perfectly with the music.  The vocals are also brilliant and one of the best parts, they are deep and powerful.  The last song "Sudden Monolithic Realization of Chaos and Suffering" is awesome!  It is dark and crushing, the synth adds to this dark atmosphere and you feel totally consumed in it.  There is a Melodic Guitar solo that adds tremendously to this track and reminds me of fellow death metallers "Prostitute Disfigurement."  

     What we have here is a weak release by a strong musician.  I think that on future releases Spencer should ether go in an "all out brutal assault" with fast chaotic guitar parts like "Gortuary" or go for a slow atmospheric doom metal approach like "Ahab" or "Esoteric."  My biggest concern with this EP is that is too "Middle of the Road" and never actually reaches "Terminal Velocity."  Although I said some negative things about this release I am looking forward to hearing what "Amputation Spree" will release next.

Download this EP and let me know what you think in the comment section.
http://amputationspree.bandcamp.com/  

I also think that everyone should check out "Acrasia"
http://acrasia.bandcamp.com/

Curt's Review: 65% (If I hadn't heard "Acrasia" it would have been much higher)