This is the third album from British doom act Godthrymm, completing the ‘Visions’ trilogy which started with 2020’s ‘Reflections’. Formed by guitarist/singer Hamish Glencross (formerly of My Dying Bride, Vallenfyre, and Solstice) the line-up also includes drummer extraordinaire Shaun Taylor-Steels (formerly of My Dying Bride, Anathema, and Solstice), and the line-up has now been expanded with keyboardist and co-vocalist Catherine Glencross, bassist Bob Crolla, and new second guitarist Kris McLaughin. If that was not enough, opener “Trenches Deep” includes guest vocals from original English Dogs vocalist Adie Bailey and Xentrix vocalist Jay Walsh while former My Dying Bride singer Aaron Stainthorpe reunites with his old bandmates on “Endure My Skin”. Now, having doom royalty involved is all well and good, but what is the album like?
Glencross and Taylor-Steels were working together more than 25 years ago so it is no surprise they work well together and are the only ones who have been there throughout, while Hamish is married to Catherine, so I am sure he is used to taking instruction. However, there is no doubt that Catherine is there on merit as while her keyboards are often in the background, when she sings her vocals take the sound in a very different direction indeed, adding lightness to the crunch. As yes, the crunch, what we have here are a band who are looking back to the Peaceville days for their influences, not so the older days of the likes of Sabbath, although they can slow it down to that speed when the time is right.
Some of the production and styles does make one think of classic Candlemass as well, but overall this is a very British sounding doom album which looks back in time but also to the future as well. It is as heavy as lead, yet somehow also very melodic, the result being an album which metalheads will find very easy indeed to get inside. It does benefit from the volume being at 11, but then again what doesn’t? Well worth of investigation.
Rating: 8/10
Links:
https://godthrymm.com/
https://profoundlorerecords.com/