Anybody like the 80s Italian doom metal band Zess? They recorded some songs from 1987-1988 then disbanded without releasing them, until in 2004 under the title Et In Arcadia Ego. Just got it today, and it's quite good. Not quite as atmospheric as other Italian doom bands (though there are atmospherics in some spots), but rather more riff-based.

Zess - The Shameless

Yeah, cool band, they were on my Italian doom list to review but I've stopped after 5 bands. That scene is quite interesting. I saw that you also got a The Black album, I wanted to like them more than I did, awesome art and lyrics in Latin!

Zess was one of the first Italian doom bands I discovered and grew to like. Musically more straightforward, yes, but a gateway band to all the weirdness that the Italian doom scene is known for. The singer Mercy La Morgue has had an interesting and diverse music career after Zess and I've enjoyed pretty much everything he's done.

Yeah, it's my first The Black album I've owned, and I could've sworn I enjoyed it more the two times I listened to it on Spotify than I did my disc just a while ago. Of course, I will give it more time to sink in.



I've got Malombra's first two albums, and they are pretty good. I wasn't thrilled with Disillusion when I downloaded it.

I suppose Mercy moved away from metal around the year 2000. I quite like The Dissolution Age. It's my favorite Malombra album because it feels more focused than the other two. I should probably revisit them all again soon. Tempted after this discussion.

Draconian's "Arcane Rain Fell" is one of the better gothic/doom metal albums in my opinion. The album opens with the sounds of rain and thunder followed by the opening guitar chords. The songwriting is top-shelf on this album, writing long songs that flow without filler is no problem for these artists. Vocals are clean male/female and perfect death metal style angry growls. The production is clean and all the instruments, especially the base make themselves known. Harmony is the fundamental principle on display here, all the instruments fit together so well and nothing overpowers anything else.

Be forewarned, this is an emotionally crushing album. Crushing in the way that only doom metal can crush you.

Get doomed...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6E3JT6opS4

Stuff like OM?

^ Zaum.

Thanks! I gave it a quick listen and it doesn't get much closer than this. I'll give it a better listen when I'm not at the office.

Don't forget their latest split with Shooting Guns too. Go see them live if you can, I believe they'll tour Europe again soon.

The Bottle Doom Lazy Band, one of the best French doom bands has a new album out and it's streaming here! https://soundcloud.com/tostbdlb/sets/th ... st-n-drunk

I just heard a band that I think'll be in my top 20 or so of all time. They're called beastwars, they play stoner doom. Everything about them is awesome, the riffs are fucked, the album art is glorious, the drums, the mastering, the vocals, every fucking thing.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFb607Y49X

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi4PmTnLoR

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrQgaaNJhOE

www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_A3WR0qsQY

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhlo9DvZPkY

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSHjrpogGhs

Fucking brilliant

I'll check it out when I'm home. It better be good!

I saw Beastwars play in Real Groovy Records in Auckland a couple of record Store Days ago, it was way louder than I expected it to be, I was thinking they would play nice but they didn't! awesome!
Pretty sure I've seen them play at least once more elsewhere too...?
Also I sold the bass player some stuff recently, CDs from memory

Meth Drinker also don't suck, quite different though, sludge.

I'm not disliking it but I don't think it's that good either.

The bass is super low and present throughout all the songs, it's often an afterthought in a lot of metal. The vocalis are very unique, don't know how to describe them. The guitar is also very downtuned. I like how everything comes through, I don't have to strain to hear the bass, guitars or vocals. It's all up front and in my face and tuned way low and way loud. As Beastwars says; "Obey the riff". The sound is so thick and heavy, so damn heavy. This is just the sort of sludge I'm looking for.

Recommend me something like Toadliquor!

You've heard Stumm and Burning Witch? [I hope I haven't already said that] Spaceboy also rule.

Giving Toadliquor a listen today, I would call this "Doom punk". \m/ ( >_<) \m/ Sludge/doom is fast becoming my favorite genre.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tTOctW3dF4

Also I can highly suggest the new WINDHAND, fucking A that album is sick. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqEQiRZ0shs

Added to the list.

Dark Buddha Rising's new platter "Inversum" (brought to us by Neurot Recordings) is fucking amazeballs. Dynamic and compelling songwriting boosted by a great production. Their core sound hasn't really changed, it's still a mix of pitch-black psychedelia, ritual ambiance, drone and heavy-duty doom but they've taken it to a whole new level in my opinion. This album, in its entirety, would be something to experience in a live environment.

I sure have heard of Burning Witch. Stumm is good!

Burning Witch I'm really enjoying, I can't stop playing Crippled Lucifer [double album reissue]
Graves At Sea sound quite similar but still unique, obviously I have some more CDs on the way too ha ha!

Also try Khanate. They have a similar sound

I played some Khanate the other day but just didn't feel it, I should try again!

Their debut is essential. But if you don't like them because you think they are too much on the drone side then its different. But the massive dirty riffs and tortured vocals are there and they sound awesome to me

Phantomass are probably my best doom discovery in the recent past. They're a stoner/trad doom band from Mother Russia. I think everything comes together pretty well, the slow chunky riffs, the vocals and the faster solo sections. Check them out:
https://shadowkingdomrecords.bandcamp.c ... phantomass

Tony, you can review them.

Alright, so I asked this on the death/doom thread but got no replies.

I am looking for some bands/albums which has a similar feel as in Meshuggah's Behind the Sun. Or Demiurge. There's a lot of doom/drone elements going on in these songs and almost the entirety of the album Koloss. I am trying to find out bands which have a similar kind of feel. No, I am not looking for "djent" shit, that's the tone. I am looking at similar doom chord selection as used by Meshuggah. Hope I was able to explain it properly.

Some examples of these Meshuggah songs with the doom feel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1nGplcVZTQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xD-KJSjIxw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lklU89L8sXs

(And almost the whole Koloss album)

Iron Void's new album is out. Listening to it for the first time now and I'm getting some serious Minotauri flashbacks. Must be the guitar tone or something. Loving it.

Edit: I also hear a whole lotta Gates of Slumber in the music.

I just discovered the very excellent Monkey3, turns out they aren't metal...?!

http://www.metal-archives.com/search?searchString=monkey&type=band_name

Is it just me or does the vocalist from Khanate sound similar to the vocalist from Megasus? [in places]

You sure?

Yeah I just played about 4 albums today and felt it, phew!

This has to be the funniest lyrics I've ever heard in doom metal:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HUVOcf0c0w0

If there is brutal stoner metal,then give me some guys.

Chalice - S/T
Heavy/Doom with good riffs and influenced medieval, first demo

Got some Meth Drinker in, an album called Oil, excellent filthy sludge.
I suppose they sound a bit like Stumm or Grief/Iron Monkey

Also fortunately I rediscovered Eyehategod, I didn't like them for ages but just played In The Name Of Suffering
It might just be the newer stuff that didn't do it for me? I'll replay everything I have to make sure!

If anyone is interested in trading great Doom/sludge vinyl, check my tradelist.

This Vampyromorpha debut album is great. Powerful vocals, engaging songwriting, strong in every respect.

Edit: I realized the vocalist reminds me of Butch Balich (Argus, Penance, etc) sometimes. A killer comparison. And of course the band removed 4 out of 6 songs from their Bandcamp page. Because reasons, I guess. The whole thing is still out there though, if you know where to look.

I meant to come back and confirm that I got in the Zodiac EP and it rules. I love that Will has an ear for doom that falls hard to the heavy metal side of things. Galloping doom is what I've been calling it lately. The Wizar'ds most recent album is a great example.

How about that, Black Oath's third album To Below and Beyond has finally been released. Digitally anyway. I expect great things.