These Finnish melodic doom death metallers have released a couple of fine albums already in 2015 and 2018, titled ‘Below The Green’ and ‘Frozen Beneath’ respectively and whilst their band name suggests an act of utter deathly filth they offer something far more subtle indeed. ‘Frozen Beneath’ was an exceptional release teeming with ideas, atmosphere and musicality as the band has wholly expanded on that album offering the listener a more streamlined and dare I say it slick release.

Opener ‘Waiting For The End’ is noticeable for its rugged sound, yet brandishes melodies like its wielding them before battle as the album also has a darker thrust at times. In places I was sent down caverns of doleful desolation done in a way that Tomb Of Finland does so damn well as the opener funnels its melancholy through the sublime guitar work as the climactic guitar work is wonderful. ‘Coffin Bound’ follows and immediately the isolated harmonised guitar work submerges you in their world of morosity, its eerie density is balanced by extraneous effects adding to the albums haunting creepiness as clean vocals are added here and there texturizing everything just that bit more as fans of mid era Paradise Lost will certainly appreciate what this band offers.

‘Cursed By Thy One’ has some cool double kick work that enhances the density and heaviness after a fine chug riff I really liked as the alternating deep and harsher vocal tones work extremely well. The song is very catchy too, courtesy of that double bass work, but it is the way the band incorporates the heart wrenching guitar melodies that make Tomb Of Finland so entrancing to listen to even though they are extremely heavy throughout. ‘Wretched Bliss’ has one of those slower beginnings, where you know it is building to a formidable melody which dutifully arrives and instantly sticks in your head. I absolutely love this song, it reminded me of early Amorphis material, think Karelian or Tales era stuff as the song adds a delicate clean vocal that just tops it off beautifully.

As a sound effect of a gate closes a cool riff introduces ‘Shadows Of The North’ and for a moment I think I’ve heard it before, but it was probably the ghost of something else as the song quickly switches into full deathly guise with a grotesque eloquence this band does brilliantly. ‘Nightfall’ continues the endless creative craft with a slower riff base before it dips its toes into a tranquil section and where I was expecting a change in vocals I got a deep growl instead, which pivoted the song back to pure death metal. The song rotates continually around the tranquil phrasing making it atmospheric and creative as we get an epic in the form ‘The Gallows’ to follow. At near seven minutes the clichéd sea noises are nothing new but they set the scene for the ambient intro sequence that follows before the metal thrusts in. With full doom-death the song has an emotive passionate delivery as it gradually escalates in power, its dramatic purpose is there for all to hear, its bravado is palpable as each passing minute surrounds the listener with bleak wintry soundscapes set against the bands hammering deathly foundations before closing with the outro piece ‘In Memoriam’ a fitting sombre piece of music that nails the coffin shut on this exceptional third album by Tomb Of Finland.

(9/10 Martin Harris)

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