Altar of Oblivion - Grand Gesture of Defiance (2012)

Psychedelic tendencies and occult fixations have been trending so highly these last few years, through the metal subculture's obsessions with nostalgia and imagery (in many cases, to a time before one even existed in this world), that it tends to rub off in the music itself with more fashion than substance. Few places is this more evident than in the doom metal niche, where bands are so often competing with one another to sound the most like a Hammer horror film score, Master of Reality or Sabotage, like they were born in the 60s or 70s. Is it too much to ask for just a solid frickin' doom record once in awhile? Denmark's Altar of Oblivion have heard this question, and once again, answered it, with a firm and effusive sophomore of suffering and scoured melody.

This is not your usual bong-worshiping, hippie plaid parade here, but a band that adheres to the traditions of huge Euro doom that were wrought by the mighty Candlemass and Memento Mori, with a few infusions of American acts like Solitude Aeternus and St. Vitus. The guitars are fully metal, leaden chugging with a lot of Gothic gravity as they stride through sad melodies and mid-paced heavy/doom sequences that support the wavering, near operatic vocals of the front man. I was originally not the hugest proponent of Meister der Töne's inflection on their first record, Sinews of Anguish, but I grew accustomed to it to the extent that it has no ill effect on me here. He hasn't got the sheer power of a Messiah Marcolin, or the hazy range of Ozzy Osbourne, but he seems to have molded himself quite well into the funeral procession, and pulls off some fine atmospheric choruses in tracks like "Where Darkness is Light" and "Sentenced in Absentia" where he adds to the haunting sadness. In fact, I almost wish he'd play around in this range more often, since it seems a lot tighter than his lower notes, and really sails off against the thunder of the guitar and the synthesizer (though his deeper range works well in the solemn bridge of "Sentenced...").

Speaking of the keys, they're used unobtrusively and tastefully alongside the core instruments, acting more like a third guitar than getting straight in the listener's face. If I've got a simple complaint with the album, it's simply that the riffs are often too tried and true in execution, and the overall production might benefit from a more primal, potent atmosphere. Let the guitars breathe more of that raw cemetery air; here they feel too compact and dry. Add more sludge to the bass, let the drums shatter across the gloom infested backdrop. Grand Gesture of Defiance seems a bit too controlled. That aside, Altar of Oblivion has written another functional, consistent record here which gladly eschews the prevalent trends in the name of sincerity. I'd give it a slight edge beyond the debut, though they've got a ways to get yet before really crushing my emotions. Fans of early Solitude Aeternus, Lord Vicar, modern Candlemass (with Rob Lowe) and the like should certainly give this a spin.

Verdict: Win [7.25/10]

http://altarofoblivion.dk/

Altar of Oblivion - Sinews of Anguish (2009)

Sinews of Anguish is the debut from a Danish band performing traditional doom metal in the vein of Candlemass, Memory Garden, and other bands which combine the traditional grooves of Sabbath and St. Vitus with a modern, crushing production. The riffing on the album is pretty good; simple and effective, much like Candlemass, but I did find myself struggling at first with the vocalist (Mik Mentor) on this album. He has two styles which he can shift between. The first is a manly, gothic croon which takes some getting used to, but actually does fit the music. The other is a more cutting, nasal shift which is closer to Ozzy Osbourne. The latter style isn't bad, but thankfully occurs only rarely on the album (perhaps I am misunderstanding and this is a separate vocalist...?)

Once you get adjusted to Mentor's tone (which is, fair to say, original) you can start to settle into the band's traditional doom-laced metal. The riffs are never quite mindblowing, but they are concise, and the simple lead melodies grace them with a forward momentum throughout the hour of music here. "The Final Pledge" is a pumper of an opening track, the riffs recall Epicus Doomicus Metallicus but with more of an atmospheric synth presence. Other tracks like "Behind the Veil of Nights", "Stainless Steel" and "Casus Belli" rock hard and old school. There are softer moments like the operatic "A Retreat Into Delusions", mileage may vary on this whether you enjoy Mentor's vocals or not. The title track closes the album with 11+ minutes of epic doom, the vocals fit the most on this track and it is probably the highlight for the album.

Winter's storm on this evil sinful night
Sweeps like a torrent in these hours of darkness
Tears are useless in this God-forsaken blight
Ripe for conquest, we are wrapped in ruins

Sinews of Anguish sounds relatively low budget, but clean and consistent. The simplicity of the riffing is captured with power. The songs are decently composed for doom, and the lyrics aren't bad. Essentially, if you enjoy the sounds of later St. Vitus, early Trouble, Candlemass, or Memory Garden, and don't mind a different vocalist, this might be worth your time to check out.

Verdict: Win [7/10] (let the carnival of Cain commence)

http://www.myspace.com/altarofoblivion