SABBATHIAN merges the heavy riffs of Doom Metal, and the lyrical beauty of the Occult, to meld a stunning collection of dark, gothic and gloom laden songs , yet the spectral vocals of Anette Uvaas Gulbrandsen harbor a welcoming light like a friendly apparition Indeed, "Latum Alterum" is haunting and the songs here seem to have a life of their own. The 3 piece band is a US/Norwegian project formed by multi-instrumentalist and former HOUR OF 13 member Chad Davis. It's hard to compare SABBATHIAN with other bands, as there is a convincing uniqueness in what their sound is. But with that said, there's bound to be some CANDLEMASS on the member's personal playlists. I could easily see the band appealing to fans of ALUNAH and COVEN.

"Latum Alterum" is the band's debut full length release, coming on the heels of their EP, "Ritual Rites". The title, in simplest definition is one of the many processes of crossing into the spirit world. The album opens showcasing the sheer stunning beauty of Gulbrandsen's haunting vocals in "Requiem" which creates the ambience of holiness and peacefulness. "The Brightest Light" renders that benign, with Gulbrandsen singing 'I had to leave this world, left behind all my angels' . And thus, our journey begins.

Next, we venture on with "Liti Kjersti", and it's readily apparent that this isn't your everyday DOOM album. This is something much more substantial; much more meaningful. As the crush of heaviness in "Head of a Traitor" surprises you momentarily as it did me, you have to take a moment to appreciate the effort Davis, Gulbrandsen and Downs have placed in these songs. This truly has the feel of a labor of love. The musicians here knew what they wanted to create, and likely sacrificed things significance to achieve it. These songs definitely reflect it. They're powerful.

Our journey through the spirits continue with "One Night of Cruelty" and "Embrace the Dark" before we close with our eternal rest captured with the outro "Evig Hvile - Libera me...". This final track circles us back to where we began. Somehow and surprisingly returning us to a more peaceful state again. The range of emotions that Gulbrandsen's vocals prompt was unexpected. The effectiveness of the music in enhancing the vocals even more so. SABBATHIAN have captured something powerful here. Powerful, unique and exploratory. "Latum Alterum" is something special indeed, and the bar has been set exceptionally high to start 2019's release schedule.