No matter how many times I think I’ve heard of plenty of the legends that adorn all the many different corners of metal, there always seems to be more that seemingly come out of nowhere. I am truly ashamed to say I had never heard of Officium Triste before this year, and I never would’ve expected before listening to them that they would come on top of this year’s already monumental pile of death/doom albums but given their illustrious history that was previously unknown to me it’s only fitting they come out on top. The competition to take the throne of the style has been extremely vicious this year, but it’s in their 25th year of going that Officium Triste may have just dusted all the other competition.

When I realized just how much of a place and the degree of importance that Officium Triste had on the style, I combed through what all of their entire catalog that I could to properly get the right idea as to just how this album would sound, and I’m very happy I did so. If you’ve listened to them before you don’t need me to tell you their awesome but if you haven’t I can’t suggest it enough, and to say that it’s easily with “The Death of Gaia” that Officium Triste has created their most staggering material I mean that with all of my heart. There isn’t a single iota of what’s on constant display here that doesn’t pluck at the heartstrings with every single note such that each song reminds us of unique grievances and even regrets that we’ve found ourselves having throughout our lives, but it’s “The Death of Gaia” that knows how to pick us right back up time after time in no less than the most splendid of fashion. Each track is supremely crushing on the soul itself while also being heavy enough such that each beat is like the smashing of hammer on an anvil and every spark being just one glorious element of “The Death of Gaia” that glows with supreme quality every time. The vocals are massive, the guitars never give in, the bass could crack rock, the drums induce thunder, the atmosphere is nigh on amazingly exquisite, and the grandeur of what Officium Triste has thrown down here is all but undeniable!

There was so much that was poured into this album that it shines greater than any of the other competition that the style has thrown our way this year, and I couldn’t be any more flattened by what’s been done in these tracks to the point where I can easily call this to be one of the most staggering works of its kind that’s all but perfect to close out the year as well as the decade with. They waited until the end of the year to blow us away, and it’s with “The Death of Gaia” that we should all bask in this bewildering work as it’s with immense talent and power that Officium Triste has provided us their magnum opus.

“The Death of Gaia” releases on December 13th via The Death of Gaia!

LISTEN to advanced songs from “The Death of Gaia” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Officium Triste on Facebook here.