Mournful Congregation – The Incubus of Karma

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Those of you who were lucky enough to capture Mournful Congregation recently on a rare European performance at Netherlands Death Fest just 2 few weeks ago, have another reason to rejoice. The funeral doom maestros from Down Under have released their fourth full length ‘The Incubus of Karma’, no less than four years after their last 40 minute EP ‘Concrescence of the Sophia’.

Tim Call from the stunning and severely underrated Aldebaran has now taken a permanent position behind the drum kit after stepping in on tour in 2015. At its base, the band still consists of Damon Good and Justin Hartwig whose heart-wrenching, funereal leads are as ever the Pink Floydish pulse of their songs. Being the accomplished and restless artist that he is, Hartwig has lately lent his guitar skills to numerous other bands and projects, but quite naturally it is in his own band that he truly shines and lifts these compositions to a higher lever. You might not expect it every day in extreme metal , but theirs are subtle songs with a lot of room for these progressive and emotional musings to breathe and flourish.

Contrary to some of their doomed peers like Dusk, Evoken or Ataraxie who love to explore the dynamic interplay between the really fast and the really slow parts, this Australian congregation proudly keeps a consistent mournful pace where  morose melodies, like pallbearers, carry the coffin songs solemnly across the long path of their burial march.

Release date: March 23rd, 2018
Label: Osmose Productions
Tracklist:
1. The Indwelling Ascent
2. Whispering Spiritscapes
3. The Rubaiyat
4. The Incubus of Karma
5. Scripture of Exaltation and Punishment
6. A Picture of the Devouring Gloom Devouring the Spheres of Being

REVIEW SCORE

  • Music10/10
  • Lyrics/Vocals8/10
  • Production/Mix8/10
  • Artwork/Packaging8/10
  • Originality7/10
8.2This Australian congregation proudly keeps a consistent mournful pace where  morose melodies, like pallbearers, carry the coffin songs solemnly across the long path of their burial march. Some of the finest funeral doom of this year so far...