Thergothon
Stream from the Heavens
Peaceville Records
1994 2009 CD
Like other obscure microgenres funeral doom metal was basically perfected around its inception, what with the likes of Funeral, Evoken, Skepticism, and these mofos: Thergothon. This being their only full-length album.
This isn't especially depressive or even "heavy" -- instead, Stream from the Heavens channels the spirit of Lovecraft and cosmic horror. This is weird, alien stuff, played charismatically. Guitars are tuned low as shit, hazy and flanged. No one is credited with actually playing bass, as apparently that wasn't needed. Drumming is clinincal, slow and deliberate with tension between each beat. Vocals are multifaceted: clean droning chants become overlain by abyssal "burps." I'm reminded of Demilich, naturally, but these burps aren't as frantic. More of a purposeful, authoritative narration. The persistent whispy, reedy synths absolutely steal the show though, serving as the skeletal structure of the entire album.
There's little technicality to be found on this; it gets by on atmosphere alone. Yes, it drags in (several) parts, and would probably become painful were it to exceed its forty-minute runtime. Nevertheless, one of the most notable entries of mid-90s extreme metal. There really isn't anything quite like it.
Rating: 4/5
Reviewed: 01/09/26
Windows96
One Hundred Mornings
100% Electronica
2018 2020 CD
I've got mixed opinions about all this "wave" stuff. There's certainly too much of it, for starters.
This is instrumental synth music, which I like, and the synth tone is fantastic. And the first track ("Caligula") is an absolute groove machine. Kicks ass. Unfortunately the rest of the album fails to reach that level. Most every track sounds the same, with near identical bass lines and drum beats. Soon it becomes background music. Maybe that's "the point" of something like this, but in most cases I'd just prefer silence.
Rating: 2.5/5
Reviewed: 01/25/26
Ymir
Ymir
Werewolf Records
2020 CD
It's always a good sign (is it?) when a black metal dude wears another band's shirt on an album cover. In this case, it's Emperor. And damn that's some deep snow; I hope that guy has some good boots. Ymir is one of those "one guy with session musicians" BM bands, this time out of Finland. And if the Emperor shirt didn't tip you off, this is purposefully "old school" second wave revival type black metal. "Generic" as hell, sure, but played rather well. It's grim and frostbitten with loads of tremolo picking and fierce blasts. Keyboards are here but unobtrusive to the point I lose track of them, and vocals are the typical rasp. Production is beefier than expected, thick and enveloping like the pictured snowstorm. Good enough of a release overall, but not something I'll return to often.
One final oddity about this band/guy -- their/his first demo was released in 1999, the second in 2006, but no full-length until 2020!!! What's going on?! Was he lost in the woods???
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewed: 09/28/25
Zao
All Else Failed
Steadfast Records
1996 2020 CD
One of the first truly notable Christian hardcore albums. A Ship of Theseus band; no one who played on All Else Failed is still involved with Zao.
Technically this is metalcore. And being 1996, this means more literal "metallic hardcore" without pronounced death and black influences. As such, it's a little impenetrable for my taste. Still decent and plenty energetic though. They've got the typical old hardcore one-guitarist line-up here, which means the bass is fairly pronounced (even isolated at certain segments). A frontloaded album, this starts to drag about halfway through. The standard shouty vocals don't help much, nor do the odd shoehorned "experimental" elements. That said, there's enough sheer enthusiasm to carry this.
Can't help but be struck by these lyrics, which are way more explicitly reverent compared to their later, abstract material.
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewed: 12/24/25