Review: “The Morbidious One” by Columbarium

Written and recorded over a three month period between April and July 2022, it was another seven month before the mix and production was finished by Lander Cluyse from Hearse Studio (Amenra, Aborted) for “The Morbidious One“, the debut album of Belgian Doom Metal quartet Columbarium. A month later they had inked a deal with Italian label Argonauta Records to release the album at the end of September 2023, which gives you an idea about just how long the pre-release life cycle of a record can be. The band themselves formed in the midst of 2021, playing their first show at Little Devil in Tilburg Netherlands in the September of that year, bringing to life ideas they had come up with more than a decade prior. Working with Cluyse as well as Brad Boatright from AudioSiege Mastering Studio (Monolord, Pig Destroyer), the band found their trademark sound and independently released debut twin track EP “Rivers Of Blood” in May 2022, referring to it as being somewhere in the space between miserable and brutal…

Giving opening cut “Eyes Bleed Black” a 1970’s exploitation movie style almost sultry introduction, Tabasco Esmee of Tyrant’s Kall fame delivers a spoken word before the crushing Doom Metal riffs designed for worship shatter all illusions. The Death Metal styled lead vocal from Pete Jules V. is a mind blowing addition to the bands soundscape, ill fitting and ill fated on paper and yet working incredibly well on record. Vocals from their pair intertwine from the mid-section of this eight minute surpassing magnum opus, a majestic hell ride that sets the tone with fleeting keys and powerful percussion. The bass is thunderous while the macabre melancholia of impending Doom in the guitar work from Koen Biesbrouck (who you may know from his work in Locus Control) and Marc ‘Markie’ Vangheluwe is magnificent with distant echoes of bands like Candlemass, Saint Vitus and even Scuzz. A slow drawl of hypnotising guitar work brings the album title track to life before the bowel clenching demonic lows from Pete Jules V. serve as a wake up call. Swirling science fiction inspired synths then transport us into another dimension, the heavier mid section absolutely monstrous. Stoner Doom Metal riffs continue to flow like blood from the veins, the slow, drawn out solo the pain of a dull ache as the beast rises from the black tar pit. There are hints at ethnic infusions with “Rivers Of Blood“, a cut that burns with dirge laden riffs before a solo in the final third that captures the imagination. An enthralling offering of a blunt force trauma during which Pete Jules V. demonstrates real storytelling prowess, it could easily go on for another verse without outstaying its welcome.

The hatchet used to split the skull of this beastly album clean in half is “Redemption“, another huge slab of Doom riff laden mastery that reaches the eight minute mark with consummate ease. There is a bluesy quality to parts of it, Columbarium never shy of an extended instrumental passage that stirs the soul while the Metal edges and almost avant-garde nuances keep things interesting. Playing with texture and rhythmic patterns in the final third of this one gives it a sense of being more than the sum of its parts, a piece of art that captivates until the spell is broken by a death growl to keep you on your toes. The shortest piece is the 70 second incantation that is “Barefoot On The Moon“, a mysterious, tranquil and strangely otherworldly moment that features the voice of Michelle Nocon. A palate cleansing moment, it is the calm before the storm and throat splitting, blood gargling vocals of Pete Jules V. on “Our Glorious Ways“. Reaching demonic new lows against a backdrop of dark melody, this one feels sombre and sobering until an upswing in tempo harnesses new found power drives nails into the coffin lid with Death Metal influences. Naturally the band never let go of their core sound and the combination work in perfect devilish harmony to create an atmosphere so dark no light escapes. Conjoined twins “A Cure For Everything/Get Back Alive?” make for a near ten minute grand finale of art house cinema style instrumental fit to be carved up by Robert Rodriguez for his next big project. The interesting thing is where they go from here because on this evidence the possibilities are endless… [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Eyes Bleed Black (ft. Tabasco Esmee of Tyrant’s Kall)
2. The Morbidious One
3. Rivers Of Blood
4. Redemption
5. Barefoot On The Moon (ft. Michelle Nocon of Of Blood And Mercury, ex-Bathsheba, ex-Death Penalty, ex-Serpentcult)
6. Our Glorious Ways
7. A Cure For Everything/Get Back Alive?

“The Morbidious One” by Columbarium is out 29th September 2023 via pre-orders are available over at bandcamp.