Here, I thought the best thing to come out of funeral doom metal, or even just long-form doom in general, that we would get this year would be the new creation from Bell Witch for obvious reasons. I find myself unable to tell how I feel about that creation which has left a massive hole in my mind where that expectation was supposed to fill without problem, and it wasn’t looking good for me since any suitable acts to fill such a space have no new material on the horizon from what we can tell be it from Un, Atramentus, Esoteric, Drown, or any other notable names. Thus it came as quite a surprise to me when I stumbled upon the debut album from Oromet whose eponymous debut is far more than I could have asked for in every given capacity.

Without having to even hear a single note of the music that’s at play here, that cover art is enough to draw you in for all of its colors, grandeur, and with a page clearly taken from Tolkien’s works, Oromet’s music immediately takes on a brighter disposition than what many would normally expect from anything that would come from funeral doom metal whose depths tend to be impenetrably dark. That may seem like a point against Oromet given the supreme heaviness that comes with the sound, but it is in all three of the tracks that make for this 43-minute debut that we see just how proficient Oromet already is at their craft. And really, that shouldn’t come as a surprise given this is a project made by two of the guys behind Battle Hag, Feral Season, Occlith, as well as others so, realistically, Oromet was destined to do good things out of the gate, but I don’t think any of us could have been properly prepared for what this creation brings to the table.

Whereas plenty of us would expect something that is uncompromisingly heavy and dense from a record of this style with more than a few sludge elements being brought into the mix for good measure, Oromet goes ever so slightly against the grain with a more organic sound that is still deliciously intense but has a contrast that is as eyebrow-raisingly interesting as it is masterfully put forth. Not a single one of these tracks fall below ten minutes in length with the opener boasting the longest with a runtime of over 22 minutes overall, and Oromet knows precisely how to capitalize on the opportunities to really show us what they’re able to bring forth with their full arsenal on display at any moment. Drawn-out heaviness coupled with a fantastic use of synthesizers that bring an undeniable layer of mysticism, light, and majesty into the body of work, this is a record that is just as capable of showing you its titanic power as it is able to show you the beauty in the smaller things of the universe amongst all the chaos. Atmospheric and raw punishment in equal amounts, Oromet’s diverse and dynamic balance is something that we don’t often see in this niche sound with it all but ripe for expansion given the opportunity, and we can only hope that Oromet isn’t destined to become a shelved side act that we see a new release from once every five years at best. Should they sieze the moment and keep the ball rolling, there’s no reason to suspect that Oromet can’t rise through the underground at a meteoric pace.

This is a creation that is all but bound to become a sleeper hit throughout the expanse of the underground with only the fortunate able to bask in the glorious sunset whose light is simply flowing over the massive presence of Oromet such that every facet of the being is effortlessly awe-inspiring. We are granted a debut here the likes of which we only get on rare occasions with every aspect of it offering us a new glimpse into a different side of a sound that I don’t think many of us would think has much ground given the history of the genre, but I say that would be a waste of potential genius. Oromet is more than onto something here. Their craft is already something that cannot be denied should you simply lay yourself in its waters and allow the magic to course through your body and mind, enriching your soul.

LISTEN to “Oromet” on Bandcamp here.

FOLLOW Oromet on Instagram here.