Search Results: doom

• AITTALA Unveils Second EP of 2025 "Ill-Gotten Gains" + Welcome New Bassist Dane Taylor

  Nov 21, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Metal visionaries AITTALA (pronounced EYE-tah-la) are returning with their second EP of 2025 via Exitus Stratagem Records, "Ill-Gotten Gains," along with introducing their newest member, bassist Dane Taylor, marking a bold new chapter in the band’s evolution.

  True to their reputation for defying genre boundaries, AITTALA weave together threads of traditional heavy metal, doom, groove, and progressive elements to create a cohesive yet unpredictable sonic journey. Lyrically, "Ill-Gotten Gains" explores the darker corners of human ambition, chaos created for personal gain, the inevitable consequences, and the fragile hope of redemption.

  The EP opens with “Isolation,” a doomy, heavy piece that confronts the fallout of past decisions, setting a dark and reflective tone. The title track, “Ill-Gotten Gains,” follows with a riff-driven intensity that shifts into a crushing interlude, lyrically exploring the exploitation of chaos for personal benefit. “Blacklisted” brings groove and sludge to the forefront, exposing manipulators and serving as a counterpoint to the themes of the earlier songs. The mood softens with “Ever After,” a modern metal ballad that wrestles with internal conflict and the elusive promise of redemption. Closing the EP, “Ashes” channels classic heavy metal energy, telling the story of someone in over their head, dragging others down in their descent.
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  The EP’s artwork resurrects AITTALA’s infamous mascot Frank, a cartoon pig head in a pentagram, first conceived in 2014 for the album "Effigy". This updated interpretation of Frank embodies the record’s central theme: the shady figure who thrives in chaos, ready to deliver “ill-gotten gains” for the right price. It’s a fitting visual for a release steeped in stories of exploitation, downfall, and the elusive search for redemption.
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  With the addition of bassist Dane Taylor, AITTALA’s lineup now features founding member Eric Aittala (guitars/vocals) and drummer Gary “Zeus” Smith (THE FIFTH, ex-MR BLACKWELL). Taylor’s arrival injects fresh energy into the band’s dynamic, reinforcing their commitment to pushing boundaries while staying true to their unique sound.

  Formed in 1991 in the Netherlands, AITTALA quickly became a fixture of the Dutch metal scene, sharing stages with The Gathering and Sadist before disbanding in 1993. Resurrected in 2008, the band has since released six full-length albums and multiple EPs, each showcasing growth while retaining their distinctive voice. With "Ill-Gotten Gains," AITTALA continues their journey of evolution, proving once again that their sound is impossible to confine to a single genre.

  EP pre-save (out Nov 21) via Exitus Stratagem Records - https://hypeddit.com/aittala/illgottengains​​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Isolation - 4:22
  2. Ill Gotten Gains - 4:20
  3. Black Listed - 3:35
  4. Ever After - 4:29
  5. Ashes - 3:50
  EP Length: 20:37

  For more info: Exsrmusic.com | Aittala.com | Facebook.com/aittalamusic | Instagram.com/aittalamusic

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• SHORES OF NULL Teams Up with CONVOCATION To Unleash "Latitudes of Sorrow" Split Album

  Nov 21, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Two of doom metal’s most uncompromising forces, Italy's Shores of Null and Finland's Convocation, have joined together to unleash one of the heaviest and most emotionally devastating split albums in recent memory. Their new release, "Latitudes of Sorrow," premieres in full today via Doomed & Stoned, offering listeners an exclusive first encounter with this monumental collaboration before it is officially released from Everlasting Spew Records on Friday, November 21st.

  "Latitudes of Sorrow" transcends the idea of a traditional split release, standing instead as a profound conversation between two unique visions of doom. Shores of Null’s melodic yet crushing sound collides with Convocation’s suffocating atmospheres, opening vast, introspective landscapes where grief, mortality, and inner turmoil reverberate. The outcome is a work of staggering weight and resonance, an album destined to haunt listeners long after its final echoes fade.

  Hailed as “a union of all the many shades of doom, forging one of the most grievous and heavy splits you’ll encounter for years to come,” the record presents exclusive new material from both bands. Each track delves into themes of absence, loss, and existential struggle, offering two distinct but complementary approaches to the genre’s darkest depths.

  Shores of Null open the split with three tracks that balance catchiness with crushing despair. 'An Easy Way' reflects on depression and human frailty, pairing memorable hooks with unrelenting darkness. 'The White Wound' draws inspiration from the tragic 2017 Hotel Rigopiano avalanche in Italy, weaving grief and anger into a soundscape of doom passages and blackened blastbeats. "The Year Without Summer" meditates on the catastrophic events that occurred globally in 1816 after the volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora, located in modern-day Indonesia. It features guest growls from MN of Convocation to heighten its apocalyptic atmosphere.
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  ​Convocation contributes two tracks steeped in suffocating heaviness and spectral atmospheres. 'Abaddon’s Shadow' and 'Empty Room' expand the split’s themes of absence and mortality, recorded at The Desolate Dungeon and mastered at Trollhouse Audio. Together, the five tracks form a cohesive journey through grief, devastation, and the haunting beauty of doom metal.

  The Shores of Null side of "Latitudes of Sorrow" was written by Raffaele Colace, Gabriele Giaccari, and Davide Straccione, and produced in collaboration with Marco “Cinghio” Mastrobuono, who also handled mixing and mastering at Bloom Recording Studios in Rome, Italy. Convocation’s contribution was recorded and mixed at The Desolate Dungeon, with mastering completed at Trollhouse Audio. Final split and vinyl mastering duties were carried out by Carlo Altobelli at Toxic Basement, ensuring a unified sonic weight across both sides of the release.

  The album’s artwork, created by LL of Convocation, depicts a spectral figure and an empty chair—an evocative image symbolizing presence in absence. This visual perfectly mirrors the record’s themes, as "Latitudes of Sorrow" unfolds musically and lyrically into a harrowing journey through grief, solitude, and the crushing inevitability of mortality.

  "Latitudes of Sorrow" drops digitally and on CD and Cassette physical format on November 21st via Everlasting Spew Records. The vinyl edition of the split will be issued in Spring 2026.

  Album countdown and pre-save: https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/79oGZH6MpwHGsTTmnLKo8D​

  Pre-Order:

  Physical: https://bit.ly/42PbNY8​

  Digital: https://everlastingspew.bandcamp.com/album/latitudes-of-sorrow​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Shores Of Null - An Easy Way - 5:56
  2. Shores Of Null - The White Wound - 6:00
  3. Shores Of Null - The Year Without Summer - 5:53
  4. Convocation - Abaddon's Shadow - 10:31
  5. Convocation - Empty Room - 8:55
  Split Album Length: 37:17

  For more info: Shoresofnull.com | Facebook.com/shoresofnull | Instagram.com/shoresofnull​

   

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• Avant-Garde Prog Doom LIMINAL SPIRIT's Haunting Album "Unwell"

  Oct 31, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Milwaukee-based solo project Liminal Spirit, helmed by multi-instrumentalist Jerry Hauppa (also of Deorbit), has released its third EP, "Unwell," today, October 31st, ushering in a chilling new chapter of doom-laced, cinematic storytelling just in time for Halloween.
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  Described as “grandiose, cinematic, epic, heavy, unique,” "Unwell" deepens Liminal Spirit’s signature style of immersive “seance music,” conjuring a soundscape that channels spiritual unrest and psychological collapse. This latest release invites listeners into the unraveling consciousness of Phillip, an elderly man suffering from dementia and haunted by the ghosts of two children who accuse him of a long-forgotten crime. As Phillip’s reality fractures, the music mirrors his descent, growing more distorted, chaotic, and emotionally volatile with each track, culminating in a violent confrontation and a final plunge into damnation.

  The EP opens with “Admittance,” a deceptively serene, jazz-tinged piece that captures Phillip’s arrival at a nursing home, comforted by his son’s performance of “Welcome to My World.” The mood shifts in “Unwell,” where microtonal guitars and fragmented rhythms evoke Phillip’s disorientation and fading identity. “Visiting Day” introduces a sinister presence as ghostly figures confront him with accusations, setting a countdown to judgment. The chaos peaks in “EOLC,” a brutal and frenzied track where Phillip is tormented and killed by the spirits. The closing piece, “A Better Place,” drags the listener into a bleak purgatory, with chromatic descents and oppressive textures that echo Phillip’s fall into hell. Together, these tracks form a tightly woven narrative of psychological horror and spiritual reckoning.
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  Three of the five tracks feature microtonal guitar work, lending an alien, foreboding atmosphere that enhances the EP’s psychological horror. Hauppa’s writing process begins with a thematic concept and unfolds as a unified narrative, with lyrics drawn from the characters’ spoken words. The music and story are inseparable, each amplifying the other’s emotional weight.
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  ​“My goal with this record is to explore ideas that represent some of my greatest fears. Having worked in nursing homes, I know how miserable they can be. The thought of losing my faculties and facing spiritual judgment terrifies me, and that’s what Unwell is about,” says Hauppa.
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  ​Liminal Spirit is a progressive doom/avant-garde metal project known for its ritualistic, story-driven compositions. Influenced by artists like Skepticism, Anata, My Bloody Valentine, Jesu, and Confessor, Hauppa’s sound defies easy categorization, blending old-school death metal with psychedelic electronic textures.
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  ​"Unwell" is available now on all major streaming platforms.

  Add to your Spotify Playlist - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/liminalspirit2/unwell

  Digital Download - https://liminalspirit.bandcamp.com/

  More Info:​
  ​https://www.facebook.com/people/Liminal-Spirit/61575618106702/​
  ​https://www.instagram.com/liminal_spirit_mke

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• SHORES OF NULL “An Easy Way” Prelude to Upcoming Split "Latitudes of Sorrow" w/ CONVOCATION Out Nov 2025

  Oct 22, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Italian doom metal outfit Shores of Null have released their new single “An Easy Way,” a devastatingly poignant track that opens their upcoming split album "Latitudes of Sorrow" with Finnish funeral doom masters Convocation. The split arrives on November 21st via Everlasting Spew Records.
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  ​“An Easy Way” was chosen for its immediacy and emotional impact, a rare blend of haunting darkness and melodic catchiness. Lyrically, it confronts depression, inner struggle, and the fragile line between perseverance and surrender. It’s a reflection on human frailty, wrapped in a soundscape that’s both oppressive and unforgettable.
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  ​“It’s the most straightforward track on the split. Catchy, yes, but it leaves very little room for hope,” says the band.
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  The split album "Latitudes of Sorrow" is a collaboration born from shared artistic vision. When Everlasting Spew Records approached Shores of Null mid-way through writing their next full-length, the band seized the opportunity to finish and record three exclusive tracks that might have otherwise remained in the shadows. The result is a darker, more hopeless sonic offering, a perfect complement to Convocation’s funeral doom intensity.
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  ​“Two sides of the same coin. Opposite latitudes, but a shared desire to explore sorrow in all its forms,” the band explains.
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  The album’s artwork, created by LL of Convocation, features a spectral figure and an empty chair, a haunting symbol of presence in absence. Musically and lyrically, Latitudes of Sorrow is a journey through grief, solitude, and the inescapable weight of mortality.
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  For fans of Katatonia, Paradise Lost, Evoken, and Esoteric, "Latitudes of Sorrow" offers one of the most grievous and heavy splits in recent memory, a sonic reckoning that will finally make all your summers end.
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  ​“An Easy Way” is streaming now on all major platforms. "Latitudes of Sorrow" drops digitally and on CD and Cassette physical format on November 21st via Everlasting Spew Records. The vinyl edition of the split will be issued in Spring 2026.

  Digital single (Spotify) - https://ps.tribly.fm/86aq6de

  Album countdown and pre-save: https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/79oGZH6MpwHGsTTmnLKo8D

  Pre-Order:

  Physical: https://bit.ly/42PbNY8

  Digital: https://everlastingspew.bandcamp.com/album/latitudes-of-sorrow

  Track Listing:​
  1. Shores Of Null - An Easy Way
  2. Shores Of Null - The White Wound
  3. Shores Of Null - The Year Without Summer
  4. Convocation - Abaddon's Shadow
  5. Convocation - Empty Room
  Split Album Length:

  For more info: Shoresofnull.com | Facebook.com/shoresofnull | Instagram.com/shoresofnull

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• AITTALA Announces Second EP of 2025 "Ill-Gotten Gains"; Unveils Music Video "Isolation"

  Oct 14, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Genre-blurring metal duo AITTALA (pronounced “EYE-tah-la”) returns with their latest and second EP of 2025, "Ill-Gotten Gains," dropping November 21, 2025, via Exitus Stratagem Records. The EP’s lead single, “Isolation,” is accompanied by a gripping music video that captures the emotional weight and sonic depth of the track.

  “Isolation” sets the tone for the EP with its doomy atmosphere, heavy guitars, and unexpected time signature shifts. Lyrically, it explores the consequences of past decisions, a theme that runs throughout the entire release.

  Watch and listen to the music video via its premiere on Doom & Stoned HERE.

  Single pre-save - https://hypeddit.com/aittala/isolation

  "Ill-Gotten Gains," AITTALA’s second EP of 2025 following Machines, marks a bold step forward in the band’s evolution. Retaining their core sound while pushing deeper into lyrical vulnerability and songwriting complexity, the EP continues their tradition of defying genre boundaries — weaving together elements of traditional metal, doom, groove, and progressive styles into a cohesive and immersive experience. Thematically, it explores the darker side of the human psyche, from chaos and exploitation to the consequences of those actions and the search for redemption, offering a cathartic journey for fans of genre-fluid metal.
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  The EP cover features an updated rendering of AITTALA’s long-standing mascot Frank, a cartoon pig head in a pentagram, first introduced in 2014’s "Effigy" album. Frank is the kind of character who’ll help you acquire "Ill-Gotten Gains" no questions asked, as long as you’ve got the cash.
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  Formed in 1991 in the Netherlands by guitarist/vocalist Eric Aittala, the band quickly became a fixture in the Dutch metal scene, sharing stages with acts like The Gathering and Sadist. After a long hiatus, AITTALA was resurrected in 2008 and has since released six full-length albums and multiple EPs, each showcasing a unique blend of classic heavy metal, doom, progressive, power, thrash, and hard rock. Now based in the U.S., AITTALA’s current lineup features Eric Aittala and powerhouse drummer Gary “Zeus” Smith (THE FIFTH, ex-MR BLACKWELL). Together, they continue to push boundaries with music that’s as technically sharp as it is emotionally resonant.

  EP pre-save (out Nov 21) - https://hypeddit.com/aittala/illgottengains

  Track Listing:​
  1. Isolation - 4:22
  2. Ill Gotten Gains - 4:20
  3. Black Listed - 3:35
  4. Ever After - 4:29
  5. Ashes - 3:50
  EP Length: 20:37

  For more info: Exsrmusic.com | Aittala.com | Facebook.com/aittalamusic | Instagram.com/aittalamusic

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