The Book of Kings

This album not only is my pick of best album of 2011, but possibly up there for best funeral doom album of all time. Huge Mournful Congregation fan since their first album, but this album takes things even further in every conceivable way imaginable. This is truly soul crushing and depressing music, but powerful and beautiful at the same time. I will admit, it is a bit hard to get through the entire album in one sitting, as the last track alone is over 33 minutes long. By the time you get to that track you are so mentally beat up, you need a breather just to be able to take in the last epic song but once you do it's worth it. Amazing songwriting, and guitar work here with 3 part guitar harmonies, seriously deep and powerful vocals, fantastic interludes and a production that is as perfect as you can get. I have no idea how they will be able to top this album, but even if they never do - that's OK because this album is a true masterpiece of doom that will no doubt be in my rotation for many years to come.