It’s always fun to discover a new artist and be among the first to do so. Partly because it makes you feel like a part of that bands journey, but also because it means you can be that annoying ‘I knew them before they were cool’ type. Jokes aside it is nice to see bands progress from their inception, it helps you to build a better sense of their sound and history. Undertaking the task of knowing all about Judas Priest for example is pretty hard unless you were there, otherwise it’s a lot of time searching on the internet (story of my life).
Alas we come today to talk about a band whom I have had the pleasure of enjoying since their beginnings in 2017. It was with the 2018 EP release of A Grand Reclamation that I became aware of the UK supergroup Godthrymm. With ex members of Solstice, Anathema, My Dying Bride and Vallenfyre it’s safe to say that this three piece has got some serious backing. Backing which they bring to the table in the form of Epic, nigh on Funeral Doom, in pace Metal. Now upon the mighty label Profound Lore Records the band undertake their debut full length release, the title of which is Reflections.
The albums opening is atypically slow and melodic, making way after some progression for Doom tinged riffs that whilst not technical are full of melancholy and purist Doom insight. Vocally the album drones with clean, powerful delivery that really separates Godthyrmm from the rest of the Doom scene in a positive way. The Sea As My Grave is perhaps the next track to exert any more power. The vocals are beautiful to behold, full of raw emotion and strength. This coupled with the progressive nature of the track as it weaves between heavy slabs and lighter portions makes for an exhilarating listen. Bolstering this further comes the highly catchy We Are The Dead, epic beyond proportion, this is a band who embody the essence of Doom but still manage to keep the older ethics of the genre intact.
Moving into the second half of the record The Light Of You brings about some more general Metal themes. The gruffer vocals and faster instrumentation towards the tracks end are almost modern Metal in sound but they work well and fit with the more Doom laden portions. The Grand Reclamation really needs no introduction, the opener of the band’s debut EP and still perhaps one of the bands best songs to date. It could be said that the real climax of this album comes in the form of Cursed Are The Many. The longest song on Reflections it is a true testament to Godthyrmm’s thriving song-writing ability. I can see how some might paint this band as dull and boring, but isn’t that really the idea of Doom? Not so much boring as uneventful, to me that’s fine and almost exactly what I want from Doom, I like it to hit when it should and the rest of the time become a sort of meditative audio trance. The real closure comes in the form of Chasmic Sorrows an instrumental that whilst good could easily have been stuck on the end of Cursed Are The Many for added effect.
Well I’m glad to say that Godthrymm have held fast and risen to create an inspiring debut. I had high hopes for this band when I first heard them and it’s nice to have those expectations met. I think that the future looks good for this band and I can see much acclaim coming from such a release. My toes are merely dipped into the waters of the Doom scene but I tend to find that once I find Doom band’s I like I get obsessed with them. I wouldn’t be too surprised if Reflections had the same effect on me. I wouldn’t hold it in as high a regard as perhaps the latest Green Lung record but then they are different beasts. Give this a go, it’s an album with a lot of replay-ability.
(8/10 George Caley)
12/02/2020 at 2:04 pm
Funnily enough, my pre-order CD arrived here just yesterday from Canada of all places. Should be a belter.