Doom and gloom

[winterburner]

Really enjoyed Valborg. Apparently they're on the same label with Beyond the Sun, who released one of my favourite records last year. Highly recommended: https://templeoftorturous.bandcamp.com/album/envoy

[Emplate]

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

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.

[RevolvingImages]

One of my favorite doom albums:

[kadaver]

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.

Glad you like it, dude! This album really knocked me off my feet when I discovered it last year, and each time I listen to it, it still feels like a breath of fresh air.

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?

[Godflesh]

It seems I'm hoping in vain to get one of my favorite doom/sludge/whatever albums on vinyl, Corrupted: El Mundo Frio. On the other hand, it's meant to be consumed as a whole and vinyl has certain limitations. Rarely I have heard such a balanced marriage of beauty and lightness together with earth-shattering heaviness.

While I'm at it, I want Garten Der Unbewusstheit on vinyl too.

[Emplate]

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?

Well, Triptykon's kind of the beast of its own, so can't really think of anything similar to them other than the obvious "Monotheist" by Celtic Frost, so I guess I'll just list some stuff which pops into my mind when I think about the words "heavy" and "crushing":

Coffinworm (death/black/sludge/doom):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuT00-pzU00


Wormphlegm (funeral doom):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6-4AUgoBHg

Winter (death/doom):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aifCCIBOnxg

Bethlehem (black/doom):
Couldn't find the "Dark Metal" album from YouTube, but here's a Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/track/5xJX6PeHxDLHU0ssnob5rt Edit: Found a Bandcamp link as well! https://bethlehem.bandcamp.com/track/apocalyptic-dance

I guess all of the above are probably pretty far-fetched, but give them a try anyway :)

[Godflesh]

I'd certainly add these wonderful pieces to that heavy and crushing list:

Esoteric: The Maniacal Vale

[Godflesh]

Corrupted: El Mundo Frio
(it's only one song, so it takes its time building up until the 10 minute mark, first vocals at the 22 minute mark, even beautiful harp later on)

[Emplate]

I'd certainly add these wonderful pieces to that heavy and crushing list:

Esoteric: The Maniacal Vale

Esoteric is pure genius and The Maniacal Vale a superb record. Thought about listing it as well, but ended up leaving it out, as I think atmospheric-wise it differs from Triptykon quite much. But then again, so do the other bands I listed, and Esoteric's definitely a good recommendation for anyone looking for doom :)

[Godflesh]

And if you want to be crushed and buried by a 20-story building and kill yourself from sheer darkness and desperation, two latest Tyranny albums will help you in that. I'm currently at work, and put on Aeons In Tectonic Interment inspired by this thread. Being crushed to bits never felt this good!