Review by Saxy S for Counting Hours - The Wishing Tomb (2024)

From Finland, Counting Hours are making some of the best gothic doom metal I've heard this decade. Each song on The Wishing Tomb has a superb atmosphere and melancholy. The vocals are very engaging and very memorable, and the harsh death vocals serve as accentuation instead of being the records focal point. Compositions manage to remain tuneful throughout the project as they modulate between the guitar and vocal leads. The Wishing Tomb does not meander either; this is still doom metal, but even then, Counting Hours keep songs concise and on topic, even the longer tunes like "The Wishing Tomb" and "This Well Of Failures." Production is pristine with a fruitful bass with its own independence from the power chords of the guitar. And the synths act as accents to an already solid foundation instead of overwhelming the entire mixing of the album. I know there isn't that much to say about The Wishing Tomb, but it encompasses nearly everything that I love about gothic doom metal and I can't believe it took me this long to hear it.

Best Songs: Timeless Ones, All That Blooms (Needs To Die), The Wishing Tomb, No Closure, This Well Of Failures