Doom and sludge metal have become an inseparable pair in the most recent decades of the evolution of both acts, and they’ve given us many, many quality releases that much of the scene has eaten up like homemade ice cream. But, sometimes, a little shake-up is in order for me to really get back into the sound simply because of far too many acts of the style sound similar despite the potential greatness. Alkymist drew me in with that cover art before even hearing a note, and I cannot express enough as to just how much brilliance and talent is dripping out of every single note throughout this grand opus.

This is the exact kind of shit that I constantly need to be injected into my veins every fucking day of the week. You can tell right out of the gate that “Sanctuary” is one of those works that do the seemingly unfathomable work of molding the uncompromising heaviness that both builds off of and gives way to mesmerizing atmospheres that are no less than gripping with the melodies and glorious rhythms flowing through every single moment. It’s a real achievement to accomplish with just one song, but to do it for a full album is something else entirely and the very concept is at a true peak in the case of “Sanctuary”. Every single thing that Alkymist brought to the table with this release comes to immediate fruition as it’s all done so incredibly masterful in every second and I cannot stress enough how literal I mean that. It’s usually when I’m listening to something I’m not enjoying that the minutes seem to stretch out for forever as I’m constantly tossing back and forth if I want to keep listening or not, but the same phenomenon happened here for me but, instead, I couldn’t help but soak up every note of brutality, atmosphere, and melody that “Sanctuary” throws my way without one mistake to be had in sight. It all culminates into this stunningly grandiose record that pulls no punches in any department even as you’re left stunned by the intoxicating heaviness only to be left floating into the near-psychedelic sandstorms of surprising brevity that we are lucky enough to experience multiple times throughout “Sanctuary” only to be thrown back the immense weight of Alkymist’s mighty sound that’s just as thrilling to absorb.

I’ve stumbled across an album that I can’t help but feel that I’m going to become quite obsessed with it for the next little while. There isn’t a single track from “Sanctuary” no matter how grand or short it is that I can’t recommend to any person who wants some top tier excellence from the world of doom, and I won’t be surprised if I find myself talking about this album yet again come the year’s end. Alkymist has done something absolutely wonderful here in every capacity, and if it doesn’t spread to wide acclaim then I am going to consider that a true crime upon quality music and you fucking should too!

LISTEN to “Sanctuary” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Alkymist on Facebook here.