The sense of space and level of imaging is superb, which would be nothing short of undesirable for most Death-Doom outfits. The production on this record is phenomenal. Now, we are talking about Doom here, so the golf clap that follows is for the level of restraint shown by the artist and how it brings that melancholic atmosphere to the next level. However, the lead work is rather remarkable. The rhythm section is strong, but it is not what demands the listener's attention. The guttural vocals from Mike 'Tuff' Erdody could probably make a substantial blip on The Richter scale, and it is primarily the vocals that bring the aforementioned artist to mind. Summoning the Slayer sounds like a melodic fusion of Esoteric and Ahab. However, if this union of sentimental veracity and despair is done carefully, you have a poignant album that engages the listener from various avenues. Bands who have undertaken these dynamic shifts may have a few fans proclaim that the band is a shell of their former selves. When an artist embraces a more desolate, perhaps even lugubrious sound, this often requires a dynamic shift that may be interpreted as tame. Fans want their metal to be visceral and oppressive. And the world that Temple of Void created here is rich in melancholy and regret.Īccessibility is a term that is commonly frowned upon in the metal community, and this is primarily due to it typically being associated with the domestication of an artist's sound. The name of the game here is world-building. What separates these bands from sounding like carbon copies of each other is how they play within the confines of the genre. This genre is not exactly known for its novel ideas or breathtaking musical prowess. This common Death-Doom trope is followed by what sounds like the rewinding of tapes which projects the listener into a spinning world of filth and decay. Behind the Eye, the first track off the Detroit Death-Doomer's fourth effort begins like most Hooded Menace acolytes start their records off, with the sound of dripping water from a septic cave.

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