Doom metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other heavy metal genres. Both the music and the lyrics intend to evoke a sense of despair, dread, and impending doom. The genre is strongly influenced by the early work of Black Sabbath, who formed a prototype for doom metal. During the first half of the 1980s, a number of bands such as Witchfinder General from England, American bands Pentagram, Saint Vitus, the Obsessed, Trouble, and Cirith Ungol, and Swedish band Candlemass defined doom metal as a distinct genre.
Pungent Stench is a death metal band from Vienna, Austria, formed in 1988. Their last known lineup consists of Martin Schirenc (vocals/guitar), Danny Vacuum (vocals/bass), and Mike G. Mayhem (drums). Pungent Stench achieved early on prominence in the death metal scene due to their unique style of extreme metal and their controversial lyrical content, a seamless blend of gore, paraphilia and black comedy. They dissolved in 1995, re-formed in 1999, then split up again 2007 after recording a final studio album, eventually released in 2018, and re-formed again in 2013.
Witchfinder General was an English heavy metal band from Stourbridge. They were part of the new wave of British heavy metal scene and have been cited as a major influence on the doom metal genre. They were named after the 1968 British horror film Witchfinder General.
Cathedral were a doom metal band from Coventry, England. The group gained attention upon release of its debut album, Forest of Equilibrium (1991), which is considered a classic of the genre. However, the band's sound evolved quickly and began to adopt characteristics of 1970s metal, hard rock and progressive rock. After releasing ten full-length albums and touring extensively for over two decades, Cathedral broke up after the release of The Last Spire in 2013.
Thergothon was a Finnish doom metal band which lasted from 1990 until 1993 and pioneered the funeral doom subgenre. They only released one demo, Fhtagn nagh Yog-Sothoth (1991), and one album, Stream from the Heavens (1994). Their sound was extremely slow and dirge-like in long pieces, which combined heavy guitar riffs, extremely deep death grunts and sparse lead guitar melodies. The band disbanded a year before the release of the album and its members focused on other projects.
"Forgive Her..." is a CD single by Swallow the Sun, released in 2005 by Firebox Records. The single was released only in Finland, where it reached number 4 in the charts. Guest vocals by Albert Witchfinder of the Finnish doom metal band Reverend Bizarre were featured on the song "Solitude", a cover of Candlemass.
Novembers Doom is an American death-doom band from Chicago, currently signed to Prophecy Productions. Along with Evoken and Rigor Sardonicous, Novembers Doom is one of the earliest American death-doom bands still active today.
Harbinger of Metal is a 74-minute EP by Finnish doom metal band Reverend Bizarre that was released in 2003. It was released on double vinyl in 2009 by Svart Records. Although considered an extended play by the band, the release is referred to as an album by some sources.
In the Rectory of the Bizarre Reverend is the debut album by Finnish doom metal band Reverend Bizarre. It was originally released in 2002 and was re-released with a bonus CD titled Return to the Rectory in 2004. The album was released on vinyl by Finnish label Svart Records.
II: Crush the Insects is the second album by the Finnish doom metal band Reverend Bizarre, released in 2005. The song "Slave of Satan", which was released as a single on 20 April of that year, appears here in a 13:27 version, which is an abridgement compared to the full version of the song released as a CD single which clocked at 20:59. Due to the more upbeat nature of the first part of the album, the CD case has a sticker accusing Reverend Bizarre of being "The Biggest Sell-Out in True Doom".
Death Penalty is the debut studio album by British heavy metal band Witchfinder General. It was released in 1982 on Heavy Metal Records. The album received some criticism for the cover photograph, which featured topless model Joanne Latham. The photograph had been taken in the yard of St Mary the Blessed Virgin Church in Enville, Staffordshire, without the permission of the local Reverend. The album was originally released on LP and picture disc and was later reissued on CD. Pictured on the cover is Phil Cope, Zeeb Parkes, Graham Ditchfield and a member of their road crew. While Peter Hinton is credited with producing this recording, the writers Phil Cope and Zeeb Parkes always felt the credit should have gone to the engineer Robin George.
Fall of the Idols is a doom metal band from Tornio, Finland, established in 2000. The band's first full-length album, entitled The Womb of the Earth, was released in July 2006 on I Hate Records. The second album The Séance was released in April 2008. Both albums artwork has been designed by Albert Witchfinder of Reverend Bizarre.
The Carnival Bizarre is the third album by British doom metal band Cathedral, released in September 1995 through Earache.
Funeral Mist is a Swedish black metal band formed in Stockholm in 1993. To date, the band have released four full-length albums, three EPs and a compilation boxset. Since 2003, the band's sole permanent member has been Arioch, also known for his work as the frontman of the black metal band Marduk.
Warning was a UK-based doom metal band.
Orodruin is an American doom metal band from Rochester, New York, who play traditional doom. Orodruin were a part of the early-2000s revival of Traditional Doom, playing alongside bands like Reverend Bizarre, While Heaven Wept, and Penance. Their sophomore release Ruins of Eternity came out on Cruz Del Sur Records October 25th, 2019.
III: So Long Suckers is the third and final double album by Finnish doom metal band Reverend Bizarre.
Minotauri was a doom metal band from Finland. Alongside Reverend Bizarre and Spiritus Mortis they were one of the most important bands in the Finnish true doom metal movement. The band was formed in 1995 and disbanded in 2007.
The Puritans were a group of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Svart Records is a Finnish independent record company focused on heavy metal music, especially doom metal. It concentrates mostly on releasing LP reissues of albums previously unavailable on vinyl.
