Review: Coffin Storm Channel Trad Doom Realness on Debut Album

Bursting onto the scene with old-school vigor and underground star power, Coffin Storm have created a whopper of an album on their first try.

I usually avoid leaning heavily on who is in the band in reviews and let the music speak for itself, but in this case, the lineup is so incredibly star-studded that it’s worth mentioning. The Norwegian band consists of Apollyon (Aura Noir/Lamented Souls), Bestial Tormentor (Infernö/Lamented Souls), and Darkthrone’s Fenriz on vocal duties.

But it’s not black metal that rears its ugly head on Arcana Rising, out Marc 29 via Peaceville Records. The record channels ’80s European trad-doom realness in the vein of bands like Candlemass and Pentagram, but they do it with their own unique touch. There are thrash and slug influences on these songs as well, and, of course, the band bring a hint of black metal to the mix.

The record kicks off with “Over Frozen Moors,” and right away we know we’re in for a trad metal treat. It kicks things off with a driving riff reminiscent of early Celtic Frost and features Fenriz delivering powerful vocals that encapsulate the throwback sound.

As the record goes on, it’s clear that this is a classic album in the making. The title track carries on those vibes, and throughout each song, the early days of the ’80s rear their heads. Even the cover art is perfectly on-brand for the classic sound they’re going for.

“Open the Gallows” is one of my favorite songs from the album, as it features the darkest, most ominous overtones and some of the heaviest riffs on the record. “Ceaseless Abandon” is another powerful song from the record, one of the faster and thashier ones. The record wraps with “Clockwork Cult,” which is a slower, doomier track with crushing riffs that pick things up for a flurry of activity towards the end.

While some throwback-style bands come off hackneyed or corny, there is nothing overdone about this record. It simply sounds like an album that could have easily come out in the ’80s except for a few heavy nuances and Easter eggs that make it even better and more crushing than some of it’s predecessors. This one comes highly recommended.

Mastering work was completed by Jack Control at Enormous Door (Darkthrone), and cover art appears courtesy of Polish artist Maciej Kamuda.

Coffin Storm’s Arcana Rising will be available this Friday, March 29 via Peacville Records. Preorder your copy today.