Funeral doom...most folks either love it or they don't. Often times excruciatingly plodding, depressing, and cavernous, with anguished, growling vocals and dirge-like guitar riffs, funeral doom has a small niche market for metal fans who truly revel in the somber nature of the music. Romanian act Descend Into Despair travel in these waters, and their latest release for Domestic Genocide, The Bearer of All Storms, hits on all the typical characteristics normally associated with funeral doom. Vocalist Denis Ungurean sounds like he is being tortured throughout, his anguished growls perfectly fitting alongside the slow, crushing riffs and melancholy keyboards. Many of the tunes here are fairly lengthy (another funeral doom trademark) and have a spooky feel, but there's no denying the power, and melodic sense for that matter, on songs such as "Portrait of Rust", "Mirrors of Flesh", the epic "Triangle of Lies", and the massive "Pendulum of Doubt". This is not happy music by any means, and for some, the extended lengths of many of these tracks will be way too much to take. "The Horrific Pale Awakening" for instance, is nearly 18-minutes of somber keyboard orchestrations, haunting vocals, and plodding riffing, but thankfully, some frantic drum kicks liven up what could have been another endless epic of funeral doom excess.
Being a doom fan, and being a funeral doom fan, are two completely different things. One doesn't always accept the other. However, if you don't mind dipping into some seriously depressing stuff every so often, Descend Into Despair have actually put together a very fine album here. The Bearer of All Storms certainly won't be for everyone, and I'll admit that this album is probably way longer than it needs to be, but it's so well done and the vocals really are worth checking out. The soundtrack to your next midnight black mass has just arrived.
Track Listing
1. Portrait of Rust
2. Mirrors of Flesh
3. Pendulum of Doubt
4. Triangle of Lies
5. The Horrific Pale Awakening
6. Plānge glia de dorul meu
7. Embrace of Earth
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