It’s all too obvious of a claim that every style has legions of rising names that are all worthy of attention with there always being far more in the underground than those that rise to the surface on a wide scale. Millions of instances of such have occurred over the decades, and it still remains true for the vast majority of bands out there, but there is something oddly fascinating about works being shrouded in darkness to a point. The search for their glory always fulfilling with those who experience such splendor feeling like they’ve genuinely come upon a great treasure. Doom metal is no exception from that rule, and Shattered Hope has been taking that very darkness and capitalizing it to the fullest. Nowhere is that more evident that their forthcoming EP.

Given the sheer diversity and density of doom metal in its entirety, there’s always a ton that any band can bring to the table in a single release should they have the tenacity, mastery, and attention to detail needed to bring such a creation to life in a meaningful way that does result in a creation that feels hollow despite its lofty efforts. From the very beginning, Shattered Hope has always excelled at bringing forth the unbridled melancholy that the genre has become synonymous with, and that sense of understanding for the craft has only deepened with all that they brought forth in the three tracks of “Memoir”. While it may be hard for some bands to bring much to the table in just three tracks, Shattered Hope makes it extremely clear that they’re more than adept to conquering such a task with every given moment of this record something that delves ever deeper into the psyche of the band while always pushing their dark craft forward both sonically and thematically. Masterful at their contrasting art with tons of moments of introspection while always ready to throw down intense heaviness on a scale that only those proficient in doom know how to perform, this is a slab of monolithic presence that is not easily turned down for all that simply is. Long has Shattered Hope been a name to respect in the world of doom metal, and it’s each step along the way within “Memoir” that we bear witness to the embodiment of that fact between the notes and along the striking emotion that brings this EP to live in exquisite detail that’s as awe-inspiring as it is painful to fully take on.

Doom metal like this is something that we always are in need of. No matter where it comes from, so long as a band can tap into this vein of doom in a way that feels impactful then excellence is almost certain to follow so long as the band in question adheres to the ideals of the genre and never once allows things to become stale or stagnant. Shattered Hope is a collective of masters that understand that truly intimately well, and works like “Memoir” are what many of us are constantly seeking tirelessly for.

“Memoir” releases on November 9th via Fucking Your Creation Records!

LISTEN to Shattered Hope on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Shattered Hope on Facebook here.