Sporting what is one of the most striking album covers released here in 2023, Doors to the Dead is the brand new release from Los Angeles doom act Formation Ritual, which features 8 new expertly produced molten metal songs sure to please any fan of the genre. It's also a pretty short one at basically 35-minutes, but there's not a moment wasted. "Warning Light" kicks off the album with some crushing riffs and a real somber vibe, and "Sun Chariot" doesn't disappoint either, with Jason Tapia's riffs just enormous, backed by the thunderous groove of drummer Kelly MGovern and bassist Rob Black. Jason's vocals are also well done, mostly in the higher register, falling somewhere between vintage Ozzy Osbourne and Layne Stalley. Other bangers here include the lengthy "Son of the Eastern Plains", the slow & menacing "Bog Bodies", and the faster paced, rampaging "Copper Axe", but honestly, there's not a weak track to be found on Doors to the Dead, which is an easy recommend to any doom fan.
Track Listing
1.
Waning Light 03:55
2.
Sun Chariot Intro 00:44
3.
Sun Chariot 06:11
4.
Bog Bodies 04:30
5.
Son of the Eastern Plains 07:00
6.
Cuneiform 04:29
7.
Copper Axe 05:42
8.
Dawn Goddess 05:46