In no small way, the world of death-doom has remained consistent over the decades. A sensational sound that has long been a tremendous force, especially when it comes to the macabre and themes of death itself, the style has been a beacon for those struggling with a deep internal suffering with its dark magnificence still offering plenty to those who seek some sort of solace, restoration, or sustainment through channeling the sound. It’s been seven years since we last heard from Chalice of Suffering, and it’s clear with this newest record that the act has been in deep connection with its somber craft.
Much like a vast swathe of the vast spectrum of metal, death-doom can come in many different forms with each and every one of them offering something unique and undeniably interesting to the mix that keeps us coming back for more. While we get some bands that go for something grandiose, tapping into something that’s well and truly larger than life, bands like Chalice of Suffering make no stranger to the sorrows that bog down our very souls and plague our waking moments. “The Raven Cries One Last Time” is a record of profound anguish. Between its undeniable heaviness lies the intensity of this world that we all know intimately whether it be born out of uncurable depression, deep loss that penetrates every layer of our being, or act as the encapsulation of a world whose light is slowly being snuffed out. Chalice of Suffering never once tries to glorify its craft nor make it seem as though there is an end to this pain. Rather, the act embraces the cold dark and admirably trudges forward. The rain falls hard as “The Raven Cries One Last Time” progresses forward with magnitude, presence, and atmosphere its pillars to show us that even after seven years, Chalice of Suffering remains a name in the grand scheme of death-doom that demands our attention.
From its drawn-out riffs to its impenetrable atmospheres, it’s across these six tracks that Chalice of Suffering more than adheres to the strong emotion core that death-doom has long held onto. The tortured artist is not often something that we take into account, but given the passion and strength behind everything offered here, it’s clear that Chalice of Suffering sought to once again channel its collective pain into art that we can all resonate with. “The Raven Cries One Last Time” is a piece of deep struggle with the resulting intensity nothing that should be slighted with its potency.
LISTEN to “The Raven Cries One Last Time” on Bandcamp here.
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https://youtu.be/8qSrrESdiTI?list=RD8qSrrESdiTI&t=14