There’s this rare oddity among metal known as atmospheric doom metal, and for me the only band that fits that description is Secrets of the Sky. Now that they’re no longer together, I’ve been meaning to find another band that I can get that sweet, unique sound from. Been searching for a while I swear, but now I think that the Belgian group of Hemelbestormer may just be the band I’ve been searching for.

As a doom fan, I revel in the long winded tracks that are the true definition of a musical journey. “Aether” only cements that love as these 12+ minute songs are the very essence of a mind trip because all four tracks are their own individual experience that truly immerses you in the blissful darkness just before opening your eyes towards the sky to see the twinkling stars that are the real treat of this music. And Hemelbestormer are a purely instrumental group which makes the immersion of “Aether” all the more sweet because you don’t have to worry about understanding lyrics or dealing with another element (the vocals). Instead, you can just close your eyes and been taken on a simply stunning trip across the cosmos that is equal parts beautiful and intense as “Aether” covers both sides of that coin more than well enough to satisfy any fan of the genre, myself included, obviously. This combination of dual guitars, drums, a bass, and some synths here and there truly come together to cultivate something that can only be called marvelous not only in a creative scope, but an album that is grand is size as well as the amount of musicianship that went on in creating this beast. Truly an album with much more than awesome music to be taken from, no doubt.

If you haven’t been able to tell by now, “Aether” is without a doubt to me one of if not the best doom metal album that 2016 has managed to bust out so far, and I am very happy about that. Hemelbestormer prove with “Aether” that they are a force that will not be taken lightly and will show the world that they are here to create some of the finest doom that the underground has to offer.

LISTEN to “Aether” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Hemelbestormer on Facebook here.