Formed in Italy before the turn of the millennium, Death/Doom Metal band ABYSMAL GRIEF present their seventh full length album titled "Taetra Philosophia" via Avantgarde Music Label. The album has seven songs. "Deus Cornatus" is first. It eases in with solemn organ notes and choirs, and the main riff is fairly simple, augmented with violin notes. It grows steadily darker as it moves along, and the vocals are clean. I usually like my Doom Metal with harsh vocals, but their cold delivery works. The title track has a similar sound…organ notes and a simple riff. For me, it's an ode to the OGs BLACK SABBATH, with lower vocals. So far however, the first two songs fail to excite me, and Doom Metal can be very exciting. "Ambulacrum Luctus" is a little faster, but also has a similar sound. One thing that the band has to do is get the album off the ground by adding some variety.

"Lumen ad Urnam" is a short interlude, connecting the first half of the album to the second half. Again, creepy organ notes are used freely so far, and this song is no exception. "Corpus Mortuum" is slower and perhaps a bit heavier as well, but the simple riffing combination with organ doesn't get the album out of the mud. Some of the clean vocals are almost delivered in a tongue in cheek fashion. "Speculum Fractum" is the longest on the album. Although it begins with some spoken words, a familiar sound ensues. We are now through most of the album, and it has been underwhelming for me. "Lamentum" is the final offering, and it's another shorter clip, with more organ notes as the main medium for the music.

Creepy at times, this is a Doom Metal album for old school fans of the genre. Although I don't know it, I get the feeling that the band has a cult following, because of how long they have been around, and their sound hasn't changed much. For me, it was just a mediocre listening experience that just didn't offer any surprises.