Forgive me, my knowledge of Doom in general is somewhat lacking, which is really stupid because I like a lot of it. From Sabbath to Saint Vitus, Green Lung to Candlemass. My spectrum of Doom as a sound is broad and I really should delve deeper. Particularly into the genre we’re looking at today, Funeral or Atmospheric Doom with Officium Triste. A mainstay of the genre since their inception in 1994 the band have some real classics under their belt and a new album only promises more great things. That album is Hortus Venenum and comes to us through Transcending Obscurity Records.

The album begins with Behind Closed Doors with some fantastic keyboards or synths, before launching into full on Funeral/ Atmospheric Doom. Sluggish melancholic guitar riffs, gentle yet metallic drums and those signature guttural yet distinguishable vocals. The spoken word portions are a nice touch too and add an element of storytelling to the whole experience. Next up is My Poison Garden which sees the guitars come alive further with some absolutely beautiful riffs, it’s this kind of delicate yet punishing Metal that I think of when you tell non-Metal listeners that it’s not all about anger. These shorter songs are nice but I really like Doom, especially this brand to take me on a journey, thankfully Anna’s Woe is there to slow things down. There is a certain air of fancy about this track, almost uplifting, especially so in the use of symphonic elements, it’s almost like a movie score.

Walk In Shadows brings things back to misery, the spoken word yet again providing a mournful anguish. It should be mentioned by this point that aside from the riffs there is an apparent and occasional hook within the vocals throughout. It’s a nice touch that makes each track a memorable experience. Up next is Forcefield, similar to the opening two tracks with its more overall metallic flare and relative ‘speed’. It’s a song which could serve as bait for the would-be Funeral Doom enjoyer. The final push comes in the form of Angels With Broken Wings. A desperately melodic piece which seems to meld the beauty and Metal together in total synergy. The atypical ‘end the album with the longest song’ is most certainly apt here and really presents the crown jewel of this album.

Overall Hortus Venenum is pretty faultless, I say pretty because I could do with some longer tracks here and there. I’d happily ditch some of the shorter songs for a bigger epic. That said as a gateway drug into the darker regions of Doom this is an outstanding effort from a classic band. If nothing else it provides some much needed melody and beauty in a world populated by bands trying to out brutal each other (but also bands, don’t stop doing that either). Maybe coming off the back of the latest Concrete Winds album this is exactly what I needed.

(8/10 George Caley)

https://www.facebook.com/officiumtriste

https://officiumtristedoom.bandcamp.com/album/hortus-venenum