“Charm is a powerful drug. At the farthest extremes, charm can alter my perception at a fundamental level, warping what might otherwise be boring, unreliable, or even downright problematic things into something worth defending or even loving. But when it comes to music, charm—in measured doses, of course—allows me to fully enjoy the good in something flawed. This is what ultimately drew me to Greek doom startups Distorted Reflection in 2024, and now again in 2026.” Charm into the doomer zone.
“The boys in Dwelling Below get a lot of facetime here at AMG. We’ve reviewed Hierarchies’ debut (Jared Moran, Anthony Wheeler, Nicolas Turner), all three albums by Acausal Intrusion (Moran, Turner), one by Filtheater (Moran), and we’ve done a filter piece on Feral Lord (Moran, Turner). It’s no wonder, as we tend to enjoy the angry, dissonant stuff they put out. I’ve been jonesing for something in that ballpark, so when I learned that Dwelling Below’s debut unnerved Thus Spoke enough to waive seniority, I quickly snagged their follow-up. Hoping it might hit the spot, I eagerly dug my grubby lil nubbins into Wearisome Guardians.” Undermining calm.
“What do you get when you combine old school doom with older school horror movie soundtracks? John Gallo of Orodruin asked this question roughly twenty years ago, and the answer became known as Blizaro. Despite the years of experience accumulated, the discography of this mostly solo project is quite brief; Light and Desolation is only Blizaro‘s third full-length. Time, ever the unfair mistress, treats everyone quite differently. Some artists have a lot to re-learn, others are able to pick up right where they left off. With nine years having passed since their previous album, how has the hourglass treated the intriguing and slightly bizarre concept of Blizaro?” How Blizaro, how Blizaro.
“Sometimes called the live rail, the third rail runs alongside the New York City Subway tracks, carrying electrical current enough to power the trains’ motors—or kill those who accidentally touch it. In a political context, the term refers to subjects dangerous enough to ruin careers. I learned this while researching Ordeals’ debut album, Third Rail Prayer. This NYC trio formed in 2011 and released two EPs and a split in the 14 years since. Influenced by the Australian scene, Ordeals promises a serpentine, subterranean blend of black and death metal, garnished with quiet grandiosity. Will Third Rail Prayer jumpstart their burgeoning career, or are they dead on arrival?” Pizza rats and electrical blasts.
“Swedish band Heathen’s Eye is boldly trying to make their mark in these well-traveled lands with their debut Port Inspiro, the Esperanto title meaning ‘inspired by the past.’ Can this freshly formed team of experienced musicians sail through time without getting lost along the way?” I mean, shouldn’t we be worried about the paradoxes more?
“2025 has not given me nearly enough epic doom. I need a lot of that stuff to offset my obsession with sub-basement phlegm-death, or my entire equilibrium starts to go pear-shaped and fall off the tracks. Luckily, international collective Anchorite are on the job with their sophomore opus, Realm of Ruin. Using the tried-and-trve sound profile of Candlemass, Solitude Aeturnus, Crypt Sermon, and Sorcerer, all the key landmarks are present, with heavy riffs, powerful vocals, and a sense of melancholy lurking behind the iron fistery. What gives Anchorite a leg up is a sizeable dose of testosterone and machismo in their doom chowder. They borrow from acts like Pale Divine and Argus and aim to kick you in the nether regions even as they harsh your mellow emotionally.” Wrath and ruin and anchors.
“A great singer can be a game-changer, and Edinburgh doom outfit King Witch is lucky enough to have an exceptional one in Laura Donnelly. Combining the grit of Janis Joplin, the range of Chris Cornell, and the tonality of Ann Wilson (Heart), Donnelly is currently one of the best in the game thanks to her commanding delivery. But there’s no “I” in “band,” and every great singer needs instrumental prowess to back them up. Enter guitarist/producer Jamie Gilchrist and bassist Rory Lee, whose earthmoving riffs—rooted in doom, 70s rock and grunge—perfectly augment Donnelly’s gifts.” Witch rules to follow.
“When members of various obscure power and prog metal bands like Shadowdance and Chaos Frame managed to recruit Judicator’s John Yelland for an epic doom project heavily inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, Steel was unable to resist hearing the results. So he took a flyer on Behölder and their In the Temple of the Tyrant debut and hoped for good doom things. Would it be utter cheese and need a high-level necromancer to save it? Would it be a rousing, sword-swinging platter or Iron Age heroics?” Always. Be. Holding.
A brand new Avatarium brings TWO staffers to the yard. Will the latest from this doom rock project thrill or be a sleeping pill?
“No matter how far today’s bands push the envelope, no matter how weird or experimental or innovative modern music becomes, there will always be bands who look around and simply say: “Fuck that, give me Celtic Frost.” Australia’s Tyrannic is one such band. The trio’s founding member, vocalist, and drummer R. has readily admitted that Tom G. Warrior’s brainchild is his biggest influence, though the band’s music isn’t just another carbon copy of Morbid Tales. For the past decade, Tyrannic has been gaining attention for their strange combination of black and doom metal.”
