For Swedish stoner doom band Altareth the time has come to release the debut full length “Blood” characterized by darkened tonalities and an irresistible vintage flair.
The title track immediately manifests the album’s obscure essence as a dense arcane atmosphere surrounds the extremely heavy riffage and the gloomy melodic guitar leads well supported by the monumental drumming.
You can easily perceive a strong traditional doom influence on “Satan Hole” as the raw energy of the thick guitar riffs lead the way to a sinister yet quite catchy rhythmic ensemble that can acquire enigmatic trippy vibes during the slower passages.
The nocturnal nuances of “Moon” create a darkly mystical sonic realm where guitars effortlessly generate a groovy momentum with massive fuzzed-out riffage but also deliver soft dreamy melodic phrases accompanied by an aptly lunatic vocal delivery.
“Empty” often follows a painfully slow sludgy tempo so the mood becomes rather lugubrious as the heavy weight of the rhythmic section and the mournful slow-burning melodic guitars depict a world of desolation and misery.
Altareth proudly channel the timeless glory of 70s doom metal and heavy rock to craft a thoughtful mix of darkened soundscapes and monolithic guitar driven grooves throughout “Blood”.