My love for the recent Tribunal album has IG recommending more doom to me, helping discover Aeonian Sorrow, a collaboration between Greek and Finnish musicians (including members from Red Moon Architect). The band recently released a 4-song EP, “From the Shadows,” but at 31 minutes and only one song under 7 minutes, it delivers a ton of bang for its buck. Each song takes its time to develop, building atmosphere and a wall of sound that at times is soothing amidst the haunting feel, then hits you hard and pounds you as it takes you along for the journey. This is death doom at its core, but it weaves plenty of goth as well as some black metal flirtation. You get the amazing juxtaposition of female vocalist Gogo Melone against the harsh delivery of Joel Notkonen, massive guitars, powerful drums, and haunting melodies that are both melancholic and atmospheric.

“Harbinger of Ruin” starts off a bit ominously with spoken word and chanting before developing into an all-out black metal assault. It calms down to death doom but revisits the speedy brutality, making great use of tempo and dynamic contrast. The female cleans complement the brutal male extreme vocals, with soaring vocals against deathy growls and blackish shrieks, creating a haunting soundscape. “Whispers in the Dark” has a more familiar gothic tinged plodding death doom feel, with the guitars and keys creating an atmospheric wall of sound. Growls dominate early but are eventually layered over the angelic cleans, with fabulous harmonies and some phenomenal late vocal lines. Longest song “Your Blackened Forest” starts off subdued with Gogo’s silky vocals before ripping your head off, then backs off again as it begins a slow build, showing off the talents of the 2 vocalists while the guitars and drums increase their power, only to drop out and end with a somber piano driven melody. “Mist of Oblivion” closes in solid fashion, beating you with its epic death doom, adding male narration and operatic vocals from Gogo, and featuring a fabulous chorus pairing Gogo with male harmonies and some killer melodies.

This is a fabulous EP worthy of your attention!

Original Instagram review