ALBUM REVIEW: Hooded Menace – Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration

Finnish death-doom masters Hooded Menace return with their seventh album of sepulchral gloom. Out via Season Of Mist on October 3rd.

Classic synths and soaring leads bring the record into life with a sombre and theatrical introduction. Melodic guitars and powerful drums kick things in with mean vocals and savage grooves in tow. Instantly the eerie and doomy death metal of Hooded Menace can be recognised which has even moved into more traditional heavy metal territories over the past couple of records. The noticeable influence of Mercyful Fate / King Diamond in the guitars is especially clear and couples perfectly with the horror-themed extremity on show. Furthering the more epic feelings, the guitar solos really leap forward in the mix which elevates the record and also shows the huge development in Lasse’s playing. Pairing fist-pounding anthemic mania with the brooding and gothic mood of the record it is bewitching from the get-go with a really powerful and enchanting sound that balances all of its elements superbly. Album seven is off to a strong start.

There is definitely more experimentation than ever, adding to the death and doom metal elements with orchestration, post-rock and other ideas while keeping the heart of the music beating true to its original purpose. Sometimes when bands branch out they go too far and lose their identity or what made them special in the first place, but this still feels like Hooded Menace. “Ossuarium Silhouettes Unhallowed” is one of my favourite records in death-doom and I loved “The Tritonus Bell” and its coupling of that with more traditional heavy metal. Now the band go in more melancholy and yet catchy directions and I still feel excited by their music this far into their career. Those barbaric riffing moments are still around, the funereal moods are as potent as ever and Harri’s vocals are sublime in their execution. Admittedly fans of their earlier adherence to more classic death-doom ideas may be a little thrown but I think this record will hold its own as a unique and strong move from the band.

Covering Duran Duran was not a predictable move but as we heard with their cover of WASP on the last record; the band can do a killer job covering others. This one worked supremely well with the bands gloomy yet rocky sensibilities and the song fit perfectly into becoming a gothic death/doom cut. We are not done yet though, the near ten minute closing epic ensures Hooded Menace leave with splendour. Their harnessing of 80s metallic might and cult horror is a concoction that never grows tiresome. Varying paces from classic gallops, mournful doom and punishing death; this is the next step for the Finnish entity whose creativity remains unbound and wild. Right ’til it’s closing moments this record erupts with an extraordinary vibe that’s inarguably captivating and holds you in its ghostly grasp with a sense of unwavering curiosity. Astounding and bewildering stuff indeed.

There we have it, album seven and still not a weak release! Hooded Menace push the boat out further while feeling as deathly and pensive as ever. Still able to rock, death, doom and goth it up or invoke all of the above at their whim; “Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration” is a varied but well-balanced and enchanting record that will certainly transport you to graven realms for its duration. Showing the bands full range of influences and abilities, it’s magnificent to still see them adventuring further into charnel worlds than ever before this far into their career. A monolithic effort of eldritch metal music.