FROM THE SWAMPS

While we're on the topic of death/doom, here's a little something for you.....Brulvahnatu from Canada. A solo project of Kib Sreng, a former member of Antediluvian and black metal cult AMSG, Brulvahnatu warps the formula set by diSEMBOWELMENT by bringing the already quite slow brew to a nauseating churn, not unlike Portal on Outre. Mix that with some saxophone and other ineffable fuckery, and that's what this album is. Yet another unique, extremely imaginative project that has slipped down the endless chasms of Bandcamp, and is more than deserving of being brought to the light. I also love that the album title definitely sounds like you're in for some slam if you put this thing on, ooh how wrong one would be to assume so... Menstrual Extraction Ceremony

Goatlord was a very short-lived death/doom project out of Las Vegas that existed from '85 to '97. Some speculate that since their first demo came out in '85, they were the first death/doom band in existence. Despite their short tenure in the scene and limited output, they have undoubtedly carved a trail for bands venturing into the imaginative territory of Goatlord: draping the blustery howling quality of black metal across a bludgeoning titan of slow brutality. This is the 2007 re-release of their crowning achievement. Witness! Reflections of the Solstice

Anhedonist is a now defunct death/doom band from Seattle. One of their members has gone on to be the bassist of up and coming band, Mortiferum . If you are currently on a Spectral Voice and diSEMBOWELMENT binge as I am, this band is certainly for you. Netherwards is their only album :'( Very funeral-y without any overindulgence or melodrama, so it can just barely be referred to as such. Mostly just heavy, slow, and oriented toward the void... Netherwards

Really fucking good funeral doom. Not too slow though if glacial speeds are normally a turn-off for you. Seriously should be legendary status but it's flown under the radar for a long time. There's a really cool bird song motif between songs which is sweet, and all of the tracks on it are totally solid. It's a cryin' shame that pretty much all they released before they broke up was this album and their self-titled EP (both of which are amazing). If you like this consider catching them for their reunion set at  Maryland Deathfest  next year! They'll probably tour after that though so you're probably good. Track Listing: 1. ...Majestic Thou In Ruin 2. Paled 3. Thy Bitter Woe 4. The Transfiguration (And It Was So) ...Majestic Thou In Ruin

Rippikoulu is a Finnish death-doom band that came out with two demos in the '90s, only to disappear with near-legendary status for twenty years after their guitarist passed away. In 2014, they got back together and released an EP that's pretty universally regarded as weaker than this demo. Musta Seremonia  is what earned them their place among the best of the best death-doom bands, especially because 1993 was around the time that the genre began to form, with  Anathema ,  Asphyx , and  My Dying Bride  defining it. If you're normally not one for demos because of the sound quality, don't fret. It really doesn't sound much like a demo, it's mixed and recorded surprisingly well--not amazing or anything, but not your typical "demo-quality." Somehow I have neglected to mention by now that the reason why  this thing is so legendary is how MASSIVE it is. Chugging riffs accompanied by thundering drums and brutal vocals. Also, apparently they are the fi...

Thorr's Hammer was a project of future Burning Witch/Goatsnake/Sunn O))) members Stephen O'Malley and Greg Anderson in collaboration with Runhild Gammelsaeter, a Norweigan foreign exchange student, in 1994-1995. They released one demo and one EP, and upon hearing their music it is crystal clear as to why O'Malley and Anderson have enjoyed so much success in the doom scene. Dommedagsnatt  was their only EP, and it is very unique in comparison to other doom bands, especially at the time. The instrumentation sounds very much like that of Burning Witch, with droning, heavy guitars and sluggish tempos, but what makes this EP special is the vocals. It is difficult to believe that Gammelsaeter, a woman, produced the sounds that are recorded on this record--some of the gnarliest, lowest death growls I have ever heard. Along with these, there are some sections of pure, contemplative clean vocals that are a nice complement. Give it a shot, and if you like the vocals, be s...