The American Purveyors of darkness and surrealism Tombs are back with their follow-up to 2020s Under Sullen Skies, Ex Oblivion, an EP of various styles but still unique and easily identifiable as Tombs.
Their Post-metal has grown and progressed over their varied career so you would expect nothing less than a slightly left-field approach.
Beginning with the Title track haunting ominous Opener Ex Oblivion is inspired by Lovecraft and merges some goth style sensibilities into some powerful black metal segments, the pace is slower, off-kilter yet purposeful, and excellently dark. Their version of ‘’Killed by Death’ is immediately recognizable, yet their version of the Motorhead classic is rawer, harsher, and tainted by the Tombs style. The GG Allen’’ Commit Suicide ‘’ is suitably frantic and chaotic an excellent ode to the madman.
Track 4 is the talking point ‘’Sombre Ruins Nothing Remains’’ (RKGD Audio Remix) begins as an industrial-tinged nightmare of bleak power that is plagued by some hip-hop-style drum programming.
You will either love it or skip it as the closer ‘’Murder Legendre’’ is hypnotic excellence, somber, atmospheric mood-building stuff of nightmares. A chilling denouement, the lonely keyboard providing little solace against the tales of homicide.
Ex Oblivion brings the goth and industrial to the fore whilst keeping them true to their experimental origins.
It is also an homage to the masters and is a genre-defying offering to the metal gods!
Tombs: Facebook
Release Year: 2022
Label: Season of Mist
Category: Album
Country: USA
Reviewed by Sparky
