Long has the history of death-doom been adorned with names that are revolutionary, influential, and downright captivating for all that can still be done in the vast spectrum of what’s already considered a niche sound amongst a broader spectrum of music that goes in all sorts of directions. Amongst such revered company, it’s only natural that names would crop up out of the woodwork as time has gone one to either try their hand at something new, offer reverence and adoration through perpetuating the trends they’ve grown to love, or outright replication. As such, competition is quite stiff with only the finest able to rise to the occasion and make their presence known. Within their third offering in four years, Shrouded in Darkness continues its trend as undoubtedly one of the finest and one of the style’s best kept secrets.

A sense of presence is something that can really make or break a fantastic work in the world of death-doom, and it’s always one of those factors that you cannot help but be overwhelmed by whenever you do manage to come across a work that boasts it in heaps. Many strive to ascertain such a thing, but not many are able to tap into it on any sort of level that leaves a proper impact, yet it’s within their latest effort, “11:11”, that Shrouded in Darkness masters it to a magnificent degree. Heavy death-doom that revels in its gothic influences while always making sure to leave more than enough personality and flair for its own that one cannot help but become washed away by the intense flavors that this style has always been damn good for, we are given a vast array of performances via an evocative organ that truly makes the record. This is a piece of work that knew precisely what it was going for every step along the way. To insinuate that Shrouded in Darkness did anything less than hit its mark dead-on throughout the whole of “11:11” would be to downplay the greatness at work here. Overflowing with riffs, an evocative nature that does its gothic backdrop extreme justice and loads of love for all that death-doom can be, Shrouded in Darkness really hit it out of the park with this release that’s destined to be named as one of the finest that this act ever puts out.

In any given year, we’re given quite a bit of quality death-doom that we can really gravitate towards with 2025 certainly not having any shortage of excellence to call its own when death-doom is taken into consideration, and it’s here that Shrouded in Darkness only furthers that trend in glorious fashion. Able to have real bounce, menace, and intrigue for all that it is, “11:11” is as deep in its craftsmanship as it is thrilling to be swallowed by.

LISTEN to “11:11” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Shrouded in Darkness on Facebook here.

FOLLOW Shrouded in Darkness on Instagram here.