Review by Saxy S for Red Moon Architect - October Decay (2025)

I have never been the biggest consumer of funeral doom metal. In the few ventures into this troubling subgenre, I’ve discovered that “creating good music” becomes a secondary feature and rather focuses on oppressive atmosphere. Sometimes that atmosphere can be enough to make serviceable, if not great, records. But often, they border on the line of stale drone that carries on far too long for their own sake.

I have made an attempt this year to become more cultured in subgenres (clans) of metal I normally would ignore or approach in bad faith. One such clan is The Fallen. And even though the music I’ve heard may be unremarkable (Deathwhite, Frayle, Decembre Noir and Hanging Garden), it still left me wanting more. I grow tired of the same death-doom/gothic sound and am desperate for a band to make me feel hopeless and abandoned like classic Ahab releases. (while still being pleasant to listen to of course!)

Well allow me to introduce Red Moon Architect. This band has been active for quite a while but never getting much in the way of recognition. Hailing from Finland, the instrumental backdrop of October Decay is heavily reminiscent of Swallow the Sun; heck, the album cover had me immediately thinking of The Morning Never Came. That presumption came crashing down in record time as the first isolating guitar riff began “Frozen Tomb” and the introduction of harsh death growls that are so distorted it starts to sound less like words and syllables and just becomes cries of agony. Now, if the whole album used these vocals, it’d probably be a hard sell, but complimenting it with wonderful female cleans was a breath of fresh air.

What October Decay does well is in the variety. The album starts off very melodic with lots of female vocals, occasional male harsh interjections, and (relatively speaking) busier guitar leads. That seems to change after “Decay of Emotions” and the run of “In Silence” until the album concludes with “First of October” is much heavier in the male vocals, guitar solos become sparser and use space to painstaking effect, and a heavier emphasis on string orchestration. Like an album such as The Call of the Wretched Sea, the change of pace, structure and instrumentation leave October Decay feeling like a sinking ship as the isolation of the guitar notes and percussion hits compresses you further and further towards the bottom.

Now I must admit that that Funeral Doom is not my thing, if that isn’t obvious by now. October Decay does not sound like an Esoteric or Bell Witch album. This is much closer to bands like Saturnus or Shape of Despair; still very much in the Death Doom category, but slower tempos, longer songs and dreary atmosphere bring it closer to the grave. Sinking to the bottom of the ocean have never felt so beautiful.

Best Songs: Frozen Tomb, Decay of Emotions, In Silence, First of October