Hooded Menace – Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration
Hooded Menace – Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration
Season of Mist
Release Date: 03/10/25
Review by Rick Eaglestone
9/10
Finland’s Hooded Menace have been steadily carving their brand of Death-Doom since 2007, capturing waves of admirers along the way, and now with their latest release “Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration”, coming off the back of arguably their biggest release, it’s safe to say there are equal levels of excitement and apprehension.
Moving forward, there has been a huge shake-up within the band, seeing long-time rhythm guitarist Teemu Hannonen departing, but fortunately, from the moment the album creaks into life, there is still an unmistakable atmosphere of theatrical dread. The opening strains want to enter some forgotten chapel where the Knights Templar once held vigil, their spectral presence still lingering in the cobwebbed corners.
Where previous efforts might have been content to simply worship at the altar of early Paradise Lost and the Doom pioneers of the early nineties, “Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration” incorporates a greater heavy metal swagger that adds unexpected dimensions to their sepulchral sound.
This album demonstrates how Hooded Menace have embraced a more overtly Traditional Heavy Metal influence without sacrificing an ounce of their Doom credentials. There are moments here that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Mercyful Fate record, and soaring guitar harmonies that King Diamond himself would approve of, yet they are seamlessly woven into the band’s established Death-Doom framework. It’s this willingness to expand their sound that keeps things interesting across the album’s runtime. You can hear echoes of Candlemass in the more epic passages, but filtered through that distinctly Finnish sensibility that has always been Hooded Menace’s calling card.
The riffing throughout is quite frankly masterful – take “Daughters of Lingering Pain.” It’s not just crushing doom riffs for the sake of being heavy; there’s genuine thought put into the construction of these songs. The guitar work shifts effortlessly between those lumbering, funeral-paced passages that make you feel like you are being dragged through ancient catacombs, and more up-tempo sections that inject welcome energy without disrupting the overall flow, The lead guitar work deserves particular praise. Those soaring, melodic leads that cut through the gloom like shafts of moonlight piercing a crypt’s darkness are simply gorgeous. There is a real sense of the dual guitars interplaying here that elevates the songwriting further than just plodding heaviness.
Thematically, the album continues Hooded Menace’s fascination with classic horror imagery. The song titles alone conjure images of gothic dread and occult mysteries which has a huge nostalgic nod to the 80’s and well. If you don’t believe me, then check out “Save a Prayer”. It should sound very familiar indeed, but still maintains that Hooded Menace aesthetic whilst reinventing a classic, and if you get a moment, check out the accompanying video.
The album finishes with the heaviest offering here, “Into Haunted Oblivion.” Hooded menace have managed to age, and expand to appeal to wider audience, without compromising their sound. Everything is cohesive from start to finish.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Twilight Passages
02. Pale Masquerade
03. Portrait Without a Face
04. Daughters of Lingering Pain
05. Lugubrious Dance
06. Save a Prayer
07. Into Haunted Oblivion
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