Out of all the metal subgenres (besides nu-metal), doom metal is probably the one I listen to the least. Not because doom metal is innately bad or anything, but more for the genre’s recent decline in quality. Stylized by its creeping tempos, low-tuned chords, and thickened atmosphere, the subgenre’s limitations begin to show overtime. Each year I can usually find one doom metal album that grips my undivided attention like Fvneral Fukk’s Carnal Confessions last year and King Goat’s Conduit in 2016. Such records expand the gloomy aesthetic to a more enthralling position both in atmosphere and technical prowess. Outside of these records, the sounds are stagnant and focus too much on slow riffs and deep guitars and ignore nuance, style, and defining factors that separate them from any other run-of-the-mill doom metal group.

Well, I think I found that one record for the year (I still hope for more). I definitely suspected something of quality when looking into Godthrymm. An absolute powerhouse of a line-up with their founder ex-My Dying Bride/Solstice/Vallenfyre vocalist and guitarist Hamish Glencross, drummer Shaun Taylor-Steels of former My Dying Bride and Anathema fame, and Bob Crolla from Blunderbuss on bass. The lone fact that there are two ex-members of one of the quintessential acts of doom metal, My Dying Bride, means that their debut Reflections has to be good. Actually, it’s more than just good, it’s fantastic. It’s been a while since I’ve heard a doom metal act put such intense focus on atmosphere and succeed this heavily. Funny part is, this isn’t even that flashy or driven by technical capabilities. This is straight-forward, brooding doom metal executed with precision and a keen ear for what makes the genre enthralling.

Even with it’s meandering pace, Godthrymm are able to encapsulate the sorrowful tone with barely any segments ever feeling like they drag on. Shaun Taylor-Steels nails the pacing across the album with steady drumming and the occasional roll or switch in pattern to ease into a new phase or to regain interest before it would become too long. Cymbal crashes are highly prevalent too and add a crunch to the brooding atmosphere. Then we have the guitars which are excellent. Love the riffs on “The Grand Reclamation” before they cut out and the bass takes over. Hell, all the riffs are amazing, especially on “Monsters Lurk Herein” which is a badass opening track. The solos are even excellent with “We Are the Dead” and “The Light of You” being my favorites on the album with how close they stay to the tone without disrupting it.

While on the topic of “We Are the Dead”, we need to discuss the number one factor that keeps Reflections from getting stale: vocals. Hamish Glencross delivers some of his most epic vocals ever on this track and the record as a whole. He utilizes his lower range that is troubling and dark, yet so expressive. The slight rasp and grit within his timbre gives a sense of pain lurking within the sorrowful instrumentals. As the tracks reach their final climax, Glencross’s vocals soar to transcendent heights as he screams his heart out. The juxtaposition between him and the instrumentals is borderline emmaculate with only a few questionable moments that are so minute they don’t damage the track as a whole. We also get some mysteriously beautiful female vocals on “Monsters Lurk Herein” acting as a subtle contrast that provides more life to the track.

When going into this record and seeing the personnel involved, the question went from “is it going to be good?” to “how good is this going to be?”. If you came here for a doom metal record that reinvents the wheel, you are probably in the wrong place. Reflections is more of a refurbishment of classic ideas and concepts with many influences from Paradise Lost and of course My Dying Bride. Every arrangement works effectively at capturing the dejecting atmosphere and entangles you within it. Each part of doom metal that attracts me to the genre is present and exceptional on Reflections. It’s honestly incredible whenever an artist has a clear direction in which they want the tone to go and nailing it throughout the whole thing. Metal is kicking ass this year, and it’s only March! I wonder where it will go next.

Favorite Tracks: “Monsters Lurk Herein”; “Among the Exalted”; “The Sea as My Grave”; “We Are the Dead”; “The Light of You”; “The Grand Reclamation”; “Cursed Are the Many”

Rating: 9/10

Released: 02/14/2020

Label: Profound Lore Records

Genre: Doom Metal

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RATING SCALE

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