Emerging from the cold and desolate reaches of Montana, this doom-laden record is a towering slab of atmosphere, grief, and sonic brutality. With its slow, punishing pace and cavernous production, the album sinks you into a world that feels both vast and suffocating. The riffs are dense and sluggish, moving like tectonic plates beneath deep, distorted basslines. The drums often sound hollow and echoing, like they’re reverberating through some long-abandoned crypt, adding to the album’s haunting and ceremonial tone.
What stands out immediately is how effectively the music invokes dread without relying on overcomplication. There’s a hypnotic quality to the repetition—each riff churning and decaying just enough to avoid monotony, instead deepening the immersion. The band employs eerie background choirs and subtle synth textures that give the songs a grand, almost religious weight—like being trapped in a decaying cathedral as the world outside burns.
Vocally, the delivery is powerful and textured. Deep, harsh growls dominate, but they're tastefully blended into the mix, never overpowering the instrumentation. At moments, spoken word passages cut through like whispered threats, channeling a vibe not far off from Darkthrone or early death-doom pioneers. These touches of theatricality never feel forced—they elevate the mood and expand the emotional scope.
Production-wise, the album is surprisingly crisp for something so heavy and raw. The bass is thick and oppressive, the riffs sharp and dynamic, and the mix gives each layer room to breathe. From clean, ambient intros to crushing climaxes, the flow is smooth and deliberate. Even moments that briefly nod to groove or sludge stay grounded in the album’s overarching doom and gloom aesthetic.
A standout moment is the cover of Black Sabbath’s “The Eternal Idol.” Rather than simply replicate, the band transforms it into a darker, more menacing beast—oozing with evil energy and a reverence for its source. It’s a fitting end to an album that feels steeped in the legacy of metal’s past, but intent on carving its own cold path forward.
In the end, this isn’t just heavy music for the sake of being heavy—it’s a bleak, emotional journey that rewards patient listeners with a sense of catharsis and awe. It’s a record that feels truly massive, both in tone and ambition, and it cements this Montana group as a band to watch in the underground metal scene.
RATING: 8/10
NOTABLE TRACKS:
Cadaver Synod
Children Of God
Invictus
The Eternal Idol (Black Sabbath Cover)