EPIC DOWN’s debut album Days of Oblivion lands with a heavy, deliberate thud—exactly what you’d expect from a doom-sludge duo, but with a bit more depth than just slow riffs and crushing drums. There’s a lot of weight in this album, not only in the music itself but in the themes it carries. It’s clear from the first track that this is an album with purpose, even if it doesn’t always feel groundbreaking.
Musically, Days of Oblivion doesn’t stray far from the core of doom-sludge. The guitar tones are thick, noisy, and grimy, and everything moves at a crawling pace, giving the listener plenty of time to soak in the darkness. The slow tempos and droning riffs are what make this genre what it is, and EPIC DOWN leans into that fully. The album doesn’t rush, and that works for the most part, but there are moments where it could use just a bit more urgency or dynamic shifts to keep things engaging all the way through.
One thing EPIC DOWN does really well, though, is atmosphere. The sense of dread is palpable from the first few minutes. You can feel the weight of the world in the music, like the band is channeling all the chaos and destruction going on around us into these tracks. The sound is raw and unpolished, which adds to that vibe—nothing feels too clean or overproduced. It feels like something you could get lost in, though it does risk dragging on a bit in places.
Vocally, there’s something interesting happening here. Fabian’s vocals don’t follow the typical growling or screaming route only. Instead, there’s a more subdued, melancholic tone that adds a little more emotional weight to the songs. It’s a nice change from what you might expect, but at times, the vocals can feel like they’re taking a backseat to the instruments. A bit more vocal intensity could have brought even more emotional depth, especially in the album’s heaviest moments.
The pacing is where Days of Oblivion feels both its strongest and weakest. On one hand, the slow, deliberate build is what gives the album its weight and mood. But on the other hand, there are times when the slowness becomes a bit too much. Some sections tend to feel repetitive or stretched out, which can make the album feel longer than it really is. A few more moments of variation or shifts in intensity would have kept the listener more on edge.
That being said, for a debut full-length, EPIC DOWN has laid a solid foundation. Days of Oblivion has all the makings of a great doom-sludge record—it’s heavy, atmospheric, and brooding. It just feels like it could push a little further in certain areas, especially when it comes to keeping the listener fully hooked all the way through. There’s no denying the band has talent and a clear vision, and with some more refinement, they could easily take things to the next level.
Overall, Days of Oblivion is a solid debut that will definitely resonate with fans of the doom-sludge genre. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to—it delivers on atmosphere and heaviness, even if it falls a little short on keeping the energy consistent. A strong 4 out of 5, with plenty of potential for even more in the future.
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Released by ARGONAUTA Records on September 27, 2024
Music source for review – Grand Sounds PR
