Easily, my favorite thing about doom metal is how drawn out it can all be and the different approaches that different bands take to make it last for songs as long as five to over twenty minutes. It’s a feat to accomplish, and many bands tend to go the extra mile and make their doom heavy as well as long, but a band’s debut isn’t always their strongest effort in this style. But despite that, Tekarra makes due with their self-titled debut as it’s an absolutely devastating crusher that grinds you into dust.

Doom can vary incredibly different from one band to the next. Acts like Zaum can go for a more psychedelic approach, Inter Arma for the mix of heavy and calm, Bell Witch for a straight crushing chaos that leaves no survivors, or more rhythmic approaches like Monolord that’s more appealing to wider audiences. When it comes to Tekarra, these Canadians go for something similar to Bell Witch but nowhere near as long-winded. While the first track out of three of this debut stretches just over twenty minutes, the band shows a clear understanding of doom metal and how to execute it in such a fashion that allows the listener to not be put to sleep by the same fucking rhythm that’s on repeat for way too long, and that trend luckily continues for the entirety of the 43-minute album. The whole album is a vicious slab of heavy as fuck doom that doesn’t take no for an answer, grinds along with a crushing sense of intensity, and a brilliant timing with pacing that’s all but tantalizing when taken in sufficient quantities. Tekarra doesn’t do anything wildly different, but damn if it isn’t a great trip of smashing doom that doesn’t let up for the end of the world!

Canada hasn’t exactly been a place that I go to for quality doom metal, but I’ve a feeling that Tekarra will change that with whatever future material they may release. These guys have busted out a very tasty and smashing debut whose power can’t be denied, and I’ve little doubt that they’ll fail to deliver in later efforts.

LISTEN to “Tekarra” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Tekarra on Facebook here.