When it comes to quality throughout the various different realms of metal, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a complaint when it comes to the state of death-doom metal be it in the modern era or in the past and I certainly shouldn’t be hearing anyone complain about it today. Given the wide array of talent that the style boasts from old pillars still keeping this amazingly fascinating to new blood keeping us interested, the sound has yet to wane even a little in damn near every aspect. It can be quite difficult to gain a foothold for any new name, however, given the wonders that are around virtually every corner within the sound. However, it’s with its debut album that I don’t think Roots of the Old Oak will come to such an unfortunate fate.

Just by looking at the varied background of those behind Roots of the Old Oak, it becomes quite clear quickly that this is a performance made by those with a real passion and penchant for intense metal that few can easily put down. But with this being the first foray into doom from what I can tell for each of the members, I remain well surprised at what they’ve managed to put together for “The Devil and His Wicked Ways”. It’s a creation that isn’t afraid to pull from the ancient world such that it’s not outrageous by any means to throw around “pagan” when talking about what’s brought to the table here, but such concepts are left in theme alone with the death-doom here quite straightforward despite incredibly potent to the touch without denial. Eight tracks that rope you in with a supremely calculated sense of intensity that is executed brilliantly with the right kind of pacing, coarse vocals that don’t go too hard, riffage that’s simple but incredibly good at its craft, and awesome intoxication that works its way into your mind as soon as you enter the record, “The Devil and His Wicked Ways” impresses and intrigues at damn near every turn. The woods come aglow to the rhythms of Roots of the Old Oak with their particular brand of death-doom done on the nose and incredibly well. If this is what this band can deliver with just their first full-length barely two years after forming, the mind wonders greatly what the gift of time can do for such talent.

We can only ever ask for debuts like this to come out of the cast expanse of the underground. Such occurrences happen only rarely with talent such as this typically already in bands that have long been established, but new names like Roots of the Old Oak are why it pays off to stay vigilant for you never know what will come your way when you least expect it. By every stretch of the imagination, I did not expect “The Devil and His Wicked Ways”, but under the great shade cast by this record, I feel incredibly content and beyond satisfied with all that it delivers in droves.

“The Devil and His Wicked Ways” releases on September 15th!

LISTEN to Roots of the Old Oak on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Roots of the Old Oak on Facebook here.