Howling Void, The - Shadows Over the Cosmos (2010)^{Release ID: 16226}

Daniel has recommended this album to me a couple of times in the past, but I ignored him, just like I tried to do when we were kids and he refused to get out of my room. I'm starting to wonder whether he did actually have something interesting to say all those times. It still seems unlikely, but on this occassion I have to begrudgingly admit that he's right. The Howling Void's second full length, Shadows Over the Cosmos, is 100% up my alley, and I'm hitting myself (which also happens to be something he used to make me do) that I didn't check it out earlier. This is Skepticism worship of the highest order, with slow pounding drums, a backdrop of atmospheric yet non-invasive keyboards, deep chasm-filling death vocals, and a combination of simplistic yet impactful heavy riffs and gorgeous melodies. If you like Funeral Doom Metal, and it's definitely not for everyone, then there's absolutely no reason that you won't find this to be a crushing and emotionally moving album. That said, it is an album that needs a couple of spins before you can really appreciate it, but that's really a given for music as sparse and lengthy as this (there are only four real tracks, but it still has a running time of just under an hour).

How this rates 3.47 on RYM while albums it clearly matches in quality and style are up over 3.70 is just beyond me. Sonny, don't be like me and ignore this release any longer (if indeed you haven't already checked it out). I think you'll dig this! The title track and closing monster Lord of the Black Gulf are my highlights.