Thorns of the Carrion - Gardens of Dead Winter

Country: USA

Record Label: Wild Rags

Total playing time: 53:40

Formed in 1992, Thorns Of The Carrion is an American death/doom band from Ohio who never seemed to have gained the recognition they deserve. The Gardens of Dead Winter was their first full-length and was originally self-released in 1994. It provides a great snapshot of glacial and sorrowful death/doom at one of it's earlier stages.

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Vastum - Carnal Law (2011)

Country: USA
Record Label: 20 Buck Spin
Total playing time: 33:45

Hailing from San Francisco, Vastum play an old-school, doom ridden style of death metal. They formed in 2009 and feature three members of the metallic crust band, Acephalix. Carnal Law is their only release thus far and is mandatory for any fan of punishing yet tasteful and creative death/doom.

"Conceptually ‘Carnal Law’ explores themes of sexuality and psychic disfiguration, not in the oft juvenile way associated with underground metal. Frustration, pain, pleasure, confusion, depravity, death, life and isolation; the lines are blurred. While a newer name to the death metal multiverse, Vastum sound every bit a twisted, seasoned band well-read in the genre’s strengths and weaknesses, and harness them at will toward their own Law."

Tracklist:

1. Primal Seduction
2. Re-member
3. Devoid
4. Umbra Interna

5. Carnal Law
6. Spirit Abused

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Ophis - Withered Shades (2010)

Country: Germany
Record Label: Solitude Productions
Total Playing Time: 01:04:21

Ophis have been active since 2001 and just released their second full-length, Withered Shades, last year. The riffing on this record brings upon a perfect balance of melody and crushing dominance. The songs are very well written and great musicianship is apparent throughout the album, especially during the upbeat death metal passages. The melodies here seem to create a sense of unsettling decrepitude, which nicely compliments the powerful and unrelenting heaviness. I found their logo to be a bit cheesy, but that in no way represents the immense sound that Ophis brings to the table.

Tracklist:

1. The Halls Of Sorrow
2. Suffering Is A Virtue
3. Earth Expired
4. Necrotic Reflection
5. Halo Of Worms

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Ataraxie - Slow Transcending Agony (2005)

Country: France 
Record Label: Weird Truth Productions
Total playing time: 51:02

Ataraxie is a French doom metal band that formed in the year 2000. Slow Transcending Agony is their first full-length album. It encompasses elements of both funeral and death/doom metal by incorporating slow funeral melodies along with blasting death metal passages. This is a truly flawless record.

Tracklist:

1. Step into the Gloom (6:14)
2. Funeral Hymn (10:06)
3. L'Ataraxie (11:44)
4. Slow Transcending Agony (11:43)
5. Another Day of Despondency (11:15)

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Anhedonist - The Drear (2010)

Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
Label: Self-released
Total Playing Time: 35:36

Anhedonist is a relatively new death/doom band from Seattle that churns out funeral heaviness characterized by a sense of mournful desperation. They recently played an excellent show in Oakland with Dispirit which led me to tracking down this demo. As the cassette version is sold out, the vinyl is still available through Parasitic Records. You can also check out their upcoming tour dates along with other information at the Anhedonist website.

Tracklist:

1. The Insatiable Hole (11:46)
2. Despond (10:38)
3. Ouranophobia (13:12)

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Lycus - Demo MMXI

Lycus is an active doom metal project that I take part in. This demo was recorded and mastered by Greg Wilkinson at Earhammer Studios in Oakland, CA. Cassettes have been released through Graceless Recordings. For information regarding Lycus shows and other updates, visit our web-site.

Tracklist:
1. Resonance in Aether (7:55)
2. Among the Ruins (8:02)

3. Aghast (9:07)

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Artwork by Bryan Proteau of San Francisco, CA.

My Shameful - The Return To Nothing (2006)

My Shameful is an extremely crushing Finnish death/doom metal band that delivers atmospheric melodies, wall-of-sound riffing, and despairing vocals.

Tracklist:

1. This Same Grey Light (7:42)
2. Days Grow Darker (7:08)
3. No Dawn (7:27)
4. The Return To Nothing (6:35)
5. It Can't Get Worse (7:39)
6. Silent (6:50)
7. Just One (6:13)

8. Return (1:30)

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