Long Island New York death metal act, Day of Doom return with their 5th album, Epitaph of the Darklord, on their own newly created label-3 Demon Records.  I reviewed their previous album, Descent of Humanity on here back in 2017 and I feel Epitaph of the Darklord is their finest work to date.

Starting off with the “Epitaph” instrumental Sam Lara on bass/vox, Doug Randazzo  on guitars/vox and Rich “They Don’t Call me the Madman for Nothing” Hervey on drums soon unleash fury on the listener with “Darklord”.  Slow build up before the brutal blast beats, barking vocals and the songs from beginning to end has atmosphere, but brutality.  “Breed to Kill” has some ugly and disgusting barking vocals in the beginning with the various band members throwing in their vocal styles and the name Doom, in the band name, is aptly used to great effect as there are some quick little doom nods, before the brutal blast beats come back.  Nice isolated guitar work at the 1.05 mark before some doom/death moments come in and nice guitar solo, which shows a melodic edge to DOD.  Then the brutal mid-paced part in the middle of the song comes in with again some angry vocals.  The song goes into more atmospheric moments as the music returns with more doom death elements as the song trails off.  Very effective.

The 8 minute epic song “In Quenchless Flames of Hell”, has a curious beginning with squealing guitars before the double bass comes in and some nice guitar work.  I like the stop n start blasting ask then the Slayer guitar nod at the 1.05 part is super cool as the band gets into slower doomed moments.  The band really embracing the doom element on this album, more so on past releases and this only makes sense, given the band name.  The mid part of the song with the soft drumming, double bass, varying vocal styles are super great and then the song picks up more speed and then the song gets back into more atmospheric moments before it ends.  Epitaph of the Darklord ends with the 7 minute “Kingdom of Salvation” and the song is the perfect ending song with squealing guitars and then the fast guitar riffing at the 2.10 part is super great as the song is slow, but the super-fast riffing, had me thinking of Overkill’s “In Union We Stand” classic song, for some reason.  More barking vocals return as the song returns to a more deathly doom approach and some of the guitar soloing going on is really cool and the song ends in atmospheric fashion with some cool acoustic guitar that would rip the nose right off Bill Eckhoff, faster than he could blow his nose from here to California-no joke.

 

At 8 songs in 44 minutes Day of Doom bring the quality and quantity with Epitaph of the Darklord.  If you’re used to super polished productions, as I have mentioned before when reviewing the last album by DOD, you may be disappointed.  You’re not going to hear computer generated drums, over the top productions etc..  What I appreciate about Day of Doom is their organic nature.  Not many bands are playing death metal this organic and I will again say this, as I have in the past, I really cannot find a band I can compare Day of Doom to.  Sure with this album I was super stoked to see them spread their doom wings more and embrace that style much more, however I cannot compare them to other death metal bands.  They are a true organic sounding act that strives for individuality and that is a plus in my book.  Maybe you’re the type of fan that want their music to sound all same and I will tell you, branch the fuck out.  Day of Doom are a special act with what they bring to the table in creating original and organic death metal.  The cd booklet come equipped with lyrics and nice imagery across the panels coinciding with the creepy album cover.  Great album and packaging.

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