EL THULE
Green Magic
(Heavy Birth)

HALF MAKESHIFT
Omen
(Profound Lore)

MOSS
Sub Templum
(Rise Above)

DETRITUS
Fractured
(Ad Noiseam)

FROGSKIN / TAUNT
Split
(Streaks)

DEADBIRD
Twilight Ritual

(At a Loss)

THE ROTTED
Get Dead Or Die Trying 

(Metal Blade)

MORE REVIEWS

A few years from now, when we can look back in time and in hindsight, we will realize that at this point in history there were way too many stoner/doom metal bands putting out albums. And I mean, as of now the system is overflowing with bans playing it. And that’s both a good thing and a bad thing. But anyway, in the not so distant future several of those who got good reviews will have vanished only to be rediscovered a few years later. Others, will fall completely by the wayside, justifiably so their albums will be listened to with a smirk and condescension. Others, panned by critics will be rediscovered from obscurity and be appreciated under a different light.  Others though, will be appreciated at the time of release and will forever be heralded and treasured as classics. Such is the case of Sub Templum, the second album (following their full length debut Cthonic Rites release in 2005 and the seven inch split with Monarch) from the UK’s Moss. And why is that? Well, because it’s by far one of the most agonizing and grueling experiences of the year. That’s a fantastic thing for doom metal standards by the way.

Sub Templum comes with a seal of approval fatly emblazoned all over it. To get the credits out firsthand, it was produced by no other than Electric Wizard’s Jus Osborn, who’s given it an unimaginable level of distortion and enough density to leave you up in the air mid-listen. The guitar sound is plain and simple electric and super fucking fat. It goes well, as Dominic Finbow’s playing is of the simpliest kink imaginable. The dude’s got an easy job, but he handpicks his notes one by one, making sure there is a feeling of dark morbid morosity present forever.

In the vocal camp, Olly Pearson does a fabulous job ay extorting pain and anguish all over it. He reminds a little of the late Iron Monkey vocalist Johnny Morrow, but Pearson is much much darker. Like he is always on the prowl, looking for blood. He sounds like is either blood or death. Sub Templum is an extreme release and that’s no joke. Like the grueling and painful experience that it’s supposed to be, the songs drag on forever. The whole thing wraps up at almost seventy-four minutes and we are talking four songs only. All mind blowing and challenging. In a way, it doesn’t get more doom than this. This is only for the sub genre’s strongest fans

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