(04-12-2016, 12:24 AM)kadaver Wrote: I've only just started really delving into the genre. My shared-favorite album of last year was Valborg's "Romantik". Anyone else dig that album? Synth-driven death/doom. If you're familiar with the band: this does sound a lot different from their previous efforts. They're part of the Zeitgeister music label, which is one of my favorite labels. They release music of different genres, but it remains akin in spirit. Just a handful of talented musicians take care of all of the projects. Klabautamann and Owl are some of my favorites too. Klabautamann is supposed to be recording a new record this year as well.

If you need some more convincing, Tom G. Warrior himself invited them to be a part of his curated Roadburn event, "Only Death Is Real". He also included Romantik in his list of favorite 2015 albums.

 https://templeoftorturous.bandcamp.com/album/romantik


"German dark, primitive metal trio, VALBORG, who feature within their ranks current and former members of Owl, Klabautamann, Woburn House, Gruenewald and more – will unleash their fifth full-length next month via Temple Of Torturous. Titled Romantik the follow-up to 2012’s Nekrodepression, which Last Rites hailed for being consistent with VALBORG’s “tradition of strange, compelling German music,” further applauding their “patient, measured aggression,” features six tracks of morose avant blackened beauty. Ambient synthesizers collide with wistful guitars, all slowly and deliberately hovering above a foundation of pounding rhythms, the band’s harsh, German vocal inflections adding further terror to their profoundly bleak brand of funeral power doom. Romantik was produced, recorded and mixed by Oliver Weiskopf at Stonehenge Studios and mastered by Michael Schwabe at Monoposto Mastering. Following four albums based around experimental, skull-crushing doom, with Romantik, VALBORG delves deeper into the heart-tearing atmospheres of the abyss of which they’ve so boldly explored. Fans of Type O Negative, Vangelis, Killing Joke and Celtic Frost/Triptykon pay heed. Romantik will be released on CD and digitally on May 19th, 2015 and on vinyl June 16th, 2015 via Temple Of Torturous. “The whole thing sounds like the results of Vangelis collaborating with (Triptykon-era) Tom G. Warrior and (Jesu-era) Justin Broadrick on the soundtrack for a story of tragic love directed by John Carpenter. ” – Last Rites"






I get to see them live in a month! :D

(04-12-2016, 11:28 PM)Emplate Wrote: Wow, actually really convincing. And nostalgic, it felt like I was taken back to the 90s. Really good melodic doom/death in the vein of the old days. This was actually something I've been craving for a long time! Almost every band nowadays in this genre sounds the same. I think Swallow the Sun do their thing well, but otherwise I've pretty much given up on the whole melodic doom/death thing, but this restored my faith a little. Thanks a bunch for the recommendation!

Edit: I also have to compliment their ability to contain themselves from making an overlong album. Also a skill only a few possess these days.

(04-13-2016, 03:30 PM)kadaver Wrote: This track is probably one of the heaviest things I've ever heard, it's like a slow-moving, unstoppable force, crushing everything in its path. Anyone got some recommendations for some really heavy, crushing stuff?

(04-13-2016, 11:26 PM)Godflesh Wrote: I'd certainly add these wonderful pieces to that heavy and crushing list:

Esoteric: The Maniacal Vale