Wreck of the Hesperus, self proclaimed Dublin sewer dwellers, are an interesting doom band. Not quite funeral doom, not really death/doom, the band takes rudimentary doom elements and covers them in a grimy sludge, that of which not even the dirtiest pipes of Dublin could conjure. The Sunken Threshold, an abrasive mire of an album, is the band’s first full length.

The album begins with a slow menacing riff, and works its way into the partitioned ‘Stop the Black Coffins’. The track is driven by a very energetic drum performance, as is most of the album, and rises and falls along with the ominous line ‘blot…ist…LIEB’. The riffs are as dirty as fuck, and the black metal inspired vocals merely complement the album’s sludgy sound. As ‘Stop the Black Coffins’ plunders on, the intensity of the screams increases, adding to the song’s urgency and creating a rather dense atmosphere.

The album does not venture far from the aforementioned sound; portentous guitar lines combined with raspy screams, backed up by a vigorous rhythm section. What really separates The Sunken Threshold from other doom albums is its incorporation of sludge into a refined doom structure. Very audible bass lines go well with the dirty riffs, and result in a thick and penetrating sound. At only three songs and just over 40 minutes, the album is just the right length. It has enough here to keep the listener interested, and remains innovative to the extent that monotony isn’t broached, assuming the listener has an affinity for doom metal. Even still, each track has fantastic riffs; special mention goes to the riffing in ‘The Osseous Tomb (Echoes of Winter)’, but the other two songs are not at all behind in quality.

As already mentioned, The Sunken Threshold is an interesting listen. There isn’t much variety on the album, so one would only really enjoy it if they’re immediately captivated by the interesting style in which the band plays. If you like the sound of a grimy, sludgy and murky doom album, one that remains vivaciously ill-boded throughout its length, then it would pay to give this a listen.

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