Written by Carcassbomb
- Doomraiser
- The Dark Side of Old Europa
- Doom Metal
- Rome, Italy
- January 24th, 2020
- 8.5/10
Epic and thoughtful doom metal from Rome, Italy. This is Doomraiser’s 5th LP in their career which is approaching the end of its second decade and it’s very much the level of quality you’d expect from such an experienced band. The Dark Side of Old Europa will have a wide release on January 24th 2020.
The band have previously performed alongside such metal greats as Electric Wizard, Reverend Bizarre, The Gates of Slumber and Orange Goblin. I’ve heard the album in full and can only assume they are well worth seeing live.
The band is self-described as “Heavy drunken doom” but it’s not the rowdy side of booze many would expect. It’s more a way to describe the pace of the music, with the swell of the tune being like that of a slowing heart beat and the breeze of the nightlife. The rhythm guitar drones along while sincere emotions pop up on the lead and then retreat back into the mix like your buddy when the party is dying down and wants to talk real while phasing in and out of consciousness. There’s a solemn warmth beneath the raunchy fuzz.
The bass is always present but it’s often patient, waiting for the time to strike most effectively – doing well to emphasize key moments in the instrumentals. The vocals accompany all of this with a variety of range including hushed whispers, guttural lows and epic doom style clean belting. There’s definitely some vocal training on display here. There’s an undeniable synergy between the band members that creates a very organic song structure.
Doomraiser: Bandcamp / Facebook
It’s a reliable listen for those who enjoy Candlemass and Monolord’s style of long riffs with strong emotional payoffs. There’s clear influences from old school straight to the heart heavy metal on this record too. This one will get a lot of play from the doom community once this reaches across the world and demands our attention.
Preorders are available here.
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