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Listening Notes: This is Doom Metal Vol. 4


I intend to plug in some more doom metal because my self-control and time management are completely in the gutter. My attention span for anything long-form is practically dead. I just want this finished quickly. I just want this finished quickly.

Dammit!

Here are eight doom metal and derivative offerings.

Diesel – Diesel (2025)

70/100
Genre: Sludge/doom/post-metal

A solid debut from the band. It isn't quite as torturous as Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean because there's still enough atmosphere left to act as a breathing room—it doesn't completely constrict your throat—but it still hasn't fully stuck with me yet. The heaviest weight is carried by "III."

Highlight: -

Diesel – Cry (2026)

75/100
Genre: Post-metal/rock

A rather different approach compared to their self-titled release. A post-rock soul perfectly envelops both tracks, making it much more digestible for me, while pouring the metal weight entirely into "II."

Highlight: all tracks

Eremit – Desert of Ghouls (2020)

70/100
Genre: Sludge/doom metal

It’s a real shame that I can only point to Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean as a comparison at this point. Eremit is clearly more dynamic in their compositions, incorporating stoner influences to back up their conceptual fantasy narrative. However, it still fails to sink any deeper into my heart.

Euphrosyne – Keres (2022)

75/100
Genre: Melodic black/doom/post-metal

Another female-fronted band, who happen to be peers of Allochiria. Clean vocals sit atop a highly dominant, melancholic black/doom metal pulse, though it isn't quite as delicate as Frayle's style. Dark and emotional. It turns gothic at times, such as on "Pale Days."

If it weren't for a free promo event hosted by their partner label, Black Lion Records, I probably never would have discovered what Euphrosyne sounded like—even though I pirated their stuff for YouTube content three years ago.

Highlight: mostly all

Fleshpress – The Art of Losing All (2005)

65/100
Genre: Sludge/doom/stoner metal

If I were to just sit idly with this album, I’d probably die of boredom. However, I usually open up social media like Facebook, and I happened to stop and watch a documentary about survivors of the Sumatra floods while listening to this. Well, despite the music being rather dry, the album title felt remarkably relevant to the video content. Losing those close and vital to you, like a mother and an older sibling.

While it isn't as dramatic as black metal derivatives, this sludge/doom—which I find isn't as sharp as Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean, who came along later—serves a very similar purpose. It simply does so with a character that emphasizes abrasion, a hardcore disposition, and a slower tempo.

Highlight: All Hope Lost / Becoming Soil 

Foreshadower – Fall (2023)

65/100
Genre: Post-metal

A strong leaning toward its roots in sludge/doom metal causes an instrumental release like this to feel vacant and hard to describe. Slowly, unconsciously, trying to survive, falling, into the void. Is that it? 

Oh, there's a riff that colors the tail end of "Flee." What does it mean? That happiness arrives right when you are at the absolute peak of emptiness or misery? Could be.

Highlight: Flee

Housesitter – I Can't Keep Up This Pace Forever... (2023)

75/100
Genre: Post-metal

A post-metal offering laced with classic post-hardcore vibes reminiscent of Quetzal, Drive Like Jehu, and Fugazi. The drums sound fairly raw, but the abrasiveness of the signature sludge guitars in the lower place and the echoed clean vocals feel ethereal, carving out an atmosphere akin to Alcest and Cult of Luna.

Highlight: Niks, Bitter Murmur, Rabbit in Red

Isleptonthemoon – Only the Stars Know of My Misfortune (2024)

75/100
Genre: Blackgaze

A similar vibe to Euphrosyne above, but musically, Isleptonthemoon leans heavily into blackgaze. I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it, but this is quite emotional, especially through the clean vocals. No names come clearly to mind except for Grief & Bliss. Perhaps Sadness and Alcest too.

Highlight: mostly all tracks
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