Traditional Doom

[edgeofthorns]

Eh, I don't like them as much as a lot of people *coughJasoniccough*


I did pick up Place of Skulls - With Vision the other day. I like it a lot more than their other stuff I'd heard, so I'll get off your back about them.

I think Doomsword will appeal to some fans here, because they strattle the fence, almost sounding like power metal. I enjoy them alot.

I really dig Place of Skulls as well. I don't think Jason cares for them though.

~Brian~

 

[edgeofthorns]

I have only heard one band on this list and it is While Heaven Wept. I have only heard the most recent album by them and love it. Are there any bands on your list that sound like While Heaven Wept? Or maybe you know of some that are not on your list.

Trust me, you're not going to dig any of this stuff! If I thought that you would've, I'd been pushing it on you a long time ago! Otherwise, While Heaven Wept doesn't sound like doom...at least on their latest they don't. They're older stuff is epic doom, but just can't see you diggin' it though.

~Brian~

 

[Cheiron]

But the new While Heaven Wept isn't doom!*


If you like WHW it doesn't follow that you'll like the other things talked about in this thread. But its worth checking out.



*This subject has been heavily debated... well heavily in terms of the community who cares about such things.

 

[Jasonic]

Yeah, Place of Skulls is only so-so. would need to be in the right mood.

Met-Al - Memento Mori aren't really doom at all. Personally, I don't care for them, and I am a HUGE Messiah fan.

Seriously though, for folks who are more prog fans than power fans, check out CATHEDRAL. They are wacked out as all hell, in a trippy mind-f*ck kind of way. They rock hard too. It's not for everyone, but might appeal to prog fans more than some trad doom would.

Back on the subject of Solstice. I have 2 of theirs. Lamenations which is freakin' amazing, and the Halcyon (SP??) EP which was only so-so. As Pate pointed out, I think all their stuff has different singers.

Not sure if Pate pointed out, but another trippier band who blends trad doom with stoner (but not in a southern-fried sludge way) is the mighty Electric Wizard!

 

[nomisofsiman]

I have only heard one band on this list and it is While Heaven Wept. I have only heard the most recent album by them and love it. Are there any bands on your list that sound like While Heaven Wept? Or maybe you know of some that are not on your list.

You haven't heard of Candlemass even?

 

[TychoCelchu]

Candlemass and While Heaven Wept are both good next-step choices for a listener who likes one but not yet the other. One obvious way to get from one to the other is that both have recorded the same song, Epistle No. 81. Candlemass's version is on their album Ancient Dreams and While Heaven Wept's version is on their album Of Empires Forlorn. Both are more than competent versions of the song, while not being all-defining moments for either band.

 

[Jasonic]

Bottom line, Candlemass are probably the best starting point for doom for power metal fans. I think they make the most use of a "chorus" in a song, ala power metal, out of most doom bands.

 

[TychoCelchu]

Just came across some current Pentagram tour dates I was not aware of.

May 25 2010 8:00P
Houston, TX @ Walters on Washington
May 26 2010 8:00P
Austin, TX @ Emo’s
May 27 2010 8:00P
New Orleans, LA @ The Hangar w/ Eyehategod (this is gonna be crazy!)
May 28 2010 8:00P
Nashville, TN @ The End
May 29 2010 8:00P
Newport, Ky @ Southgate House
May 30 MDF

 

[FatesFan]

You haven't heard of Candlemass even?

I have heard of them, I just have not explored them.

FatesFan,

I've only been checking out more doom stuff over the past ten months, but based on what I've heard, nothing sounds quite like While Heaven Wept. In fact, their previous albums don't sound quite like "Vast Oceans Lachrymose." I would categorize that album as epic progressive metal with doomy lyrics. It's easily one of my favorite albums of 2009.

That said, if you're looking for something (very) vaguely close to that sound, I would reccommend the more melodic and less plodding doom. Abstrakt Algebra comes to mind. It was a short-lived project formed by Leif Edling of Candlemass. Mats Leven sang on it. They're more of a technical power metal band with some doomy tendencies. They only put out a self-titled album, and if you look hard enough, you can snag a copy online.

Another cool album was Memento Mori's "La Danse Macabre." Though most of their albums had Messiah Marcolin on vocals, this particular album featured ex-Tad Morose singer Kristian Andren. Much to the chagrin of the vast majority of doom fans, I much prefer Andren. Mike Wead (King Diamond and Mercyful Fate's old guitarist) was the main songwriter for this band, and he had a knack for making doom very interesting.

If I think of anything else, I'll post it.


Stay metal. Never rust.
Albert

Thanks Al

They're very unique, but the most similar ones would be along these lines:

Candlemass
Solitude Aeturnus
Solstice
Well of Souls
Altar of Oblivion
Atlantean Kodex
Doomshine
Forsaken
Semlah
Sorcerer
Dantesco
Last Chapter

...basically anything you see labeled "epic doom"

Thanks Pate

Trust me, you're not going to dig any of this stuff! If I thought that you would've, I'd been pushing it on you a long time ago! Otherwise, While Heaven Wept doesn't sound like doom...at least on their latest they don't. They're older stuff is epic doom, but just can't see you diggin' it though.

~Brian~

Your Prob' right.

 

[Jasonic]

Just came across some current Pentagram tour dates I was not aware of.

May 25 2010 8:00P
Houston, TX @ Walters on Washington
May 26 2010 8:00P
Austin, TX @ Emo’s
May 27 2010 8:00P
New Orleans, LA @ The Hangar w/ Eyehategod (this is gonna be crazy!)
May 28 2010 8:00P
Nashville, TN @ The End
May 29 2010 8:00P
Newport, Ky @ Southgate House
May 30 MDF

Most importantly, Victor Griffin will be rejoining the band for these dates!

 

[TychoCelchu]

Whoa! I did not know that. I actually just Mapquested the route to the Kentucky show on Saturday, haha. But it's out of practical reach.

 

[edgeofthorns]

Your Prob' right.

I normally am bud!

~Brian~

 

[edgeofthorns]

Bottom line, Candlemass are probably the best starting point for doom for power metal fans. I think they make the most use of a "chorus" in a song, ala power metal, out of most doom bands.

I agree. Both Candlemass and Solitude Aturnus are what caused me to explore the genre in the first place.

~Brian~

 

[FatesFan]

I normally am bud!

~Brian~

I would say that 10% of the time, your right all the time.

 

[Met-Al]

Jasonic,

Out of curiosity, how would you categorize Memento Mori? I always considered them to be a doom band that leaned more in the direction of power metal.


Stay metal. Never rust.
Albert

 

[Jasonic]

Jasonic,

Out of curiosity, how would you categorize Memento Mori? I always considered them to be a doom band that leaned more in the direction of power metal.


Stay metal. Never rust.
Albert

Ha!! Well, I suppose we can split hairs on this.
I would call them more of a power metal band with doom influences!

Are you familiar with Messiah's work with Candlemass?

 

[Met-Al]

Jasonic,

I am familiar with Messiah's output with Candlemass, particularly on "Tales Of Creation" and the self-titled album. Outside of that, I know "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus" very well, and I've been checking out "King Of The Grey Islands." I tend to prefer the other vocalists that have been in Candlemass. Messiah has this weird vibratto going on, especially when pronouncing the long "U" or double-O sound. It's really hard for me to get past that.

At any rate, I've realized that I really appreciate the heaviness of the guitars in doom. It's the vocals that have kept me on the fence. I haven't brought it up here yet, but believe it or not, my first official release will be a doom album! I'll give out more details as we get closer to the release.


Stay metal. Never rust.
Albert

 

[Exploding Ned]

Alot of good doom recommendations below. Interesting you're not too much into the legendary Hellhound label bands, Revelation, Count Raven, Wretched, Lost Breed, Obsessed etc. I used to even have a doom section in the metal, but sales of the 'low and slow arts' flatlined in recent years. Interestingly, Never Comes Silence from Revelation used to be a favorite, now not so much. A newer doom band Moss is interesting to me, and if you go to their label's site Rise Above, last time I checked there were plenty of tracks to sample. To some, doom is an aquired taste... to the few though, it is instantly what they've seeked all along. Reverend Bizarre even went as far as to say a couple years ago that no one listens to doom anymore. Maybe so, but I still enjoy alot of the bands listed below.

This thread is to continue the discussion from the Annihilator thread.

Which Solstice album did you hear? They have a different singer on each album, though both are similar.

Anyhow, my quickly-put-together long list of recommendations (including some on your list) based on my opinions for you and anybody else:

Highly, highly, highly recommended:

Candlemass
Solstice
Solitude Aeturnus
Trouble
Saint Vitus
While Heaven Wept
Well of Souls
The Gates of Slumber
Pale Divine
Hour of 13
Argus
Procession
Grand Magus
Funeral Circle
Sinister Realm
Altar of Oblivion
Orodruin
Atlantean Kodex
Pagan Altar
Witchfinder General

Highly recommended:

Iron Man
Apostle of Solitude
Doomshine
Forsaken
Semlah
Sorcerer

Some I like, some I don't like as much, but these are either good or relevant or both:

Revelation
Blood Farmers
All Souls' Day
Bitterdusk
Black Hole
Cathedral
Count Raven
Dantesco
Las Cruces
Last Chapter
Millarca
Mirror of Deception
Mourn
Nomad Son
The Obsessed
Ogre
Orchid
Oversoul
Passage
Penance
Pentagram
Place of Skulls
Planet Gemini
The River
Scald
Seamount
Thunderstorm
Unsilence
Wall of Sleep
Warning
The Wizar'd
Reverend Bizarre
Memory Garden
Lord Vicar
Tortured Spirit
Lamented Souls
Krux
The Lamp of Thoth

I'd be happy to answer any questions about any of these bands. I hope you find something you like.

 

[J. Golden]

The last two doomy bands I found that did anything for me was Witchcraft and Jex Thoth. Witchcraft are very Pentagram like but hints of Moody Blues and Dust. Jex Thoth is just awesome. Before it even dawn on me my girlfriend thought I was listening to Mandy Morton & The Spriguns. Well add some Witchfinder General in there and there you have it.

 

[Exploding Ned]

The last two doomy bands I found that did anything for me was Witchcraft and Jex Thoth. Witchcraft are very Pentagram like but hints of Moody Blues and Dust. Jex Thoth is just awesome. Before it even dawn on me my girlfriend thought I was listening to Mandy Morton & The Spriguns. Well add some Witchfinder General in there and there you have it.

Jex Thoth are amazing. Wish they'd TOUR!! Another great doom band is Litmus. Like doom mixed with heavy vintage Hawkwind. Witchcraft 1st album was killer, since then though not so much.