SULLEN GUEST is a Lithuanian Death/Doom metal band formed in 2013. The meaning behind the band represents unexpected experiences and emotions we are inevitably forced to face in our lives: pain, death, loneliness, fear, betrayal... Each one of us have been visited by these sullen visitors. Started as a female-fronted band with the EP "Will You Greet the Sullen Guest as an Old Friend?"(2015) followed by a major change of line-up and a search for a distinctive sound, in 2018 recorded and released the second album, "IIIIXXI" in which teachings of the old school can be heard.

"Chapter III" is their most recent album will be published in early 2021 in which the fragility of life, the pain of the soul, the shocks of life, and death were the main influence for its creation. The album contains seven tracks. "Nothing will be Forgotten" leads off the album. It opens with slow moving guitars, bass and drums, and guttural vocals. Some lead guitar provides a bit of melody, but this is indeed an affair of pain, loneliness and the other emotions that the bend mentioned in their intro. It picks up in speed after the half-way mark, then falls back to a desolate sound, complete with gut-wrenching vocals.

"Dewfall" begins with a faster moving riff, and galloping drums. It slows to a grind, and they really push those feelings of fear and pain. The vocals take an especially angry turn after the half-way mark, with heavy, weighted riff strikes. "Mortal Chord" is a little more linear in length, and also shorter. It opens with a heavy riff and some screams that turn to guttural vocals. It stays on a fairly predictable but aggressive path from there. "Footprints" begins with some slow guitars and an occasional drum strike, but leads to a heavy riff pretty quickly from there. The vocals are spoken, sort of whispered at first, but grow in anger. Bass notes climb up the scale, providing another layer of sound you don't often get in the genre of Doom Metal.

"Limbionic Perdition" begins with a faster moving riff, and some vocal angst. Just before the half-way mark, clean guitars strum a dark passage, with lead guitar notes. It gathers steam and just crushes you from there. It finishes with a muscular sound, and the vocalist laughing in futile. "Samsara" is just a little shorter in length. It begins with big guitar strikes, and vocal that lash out at you in pain. Towards the end it grows with speed and heaviness, ending in utter desolation. "October Lullaby" is the shortest song on the album, blending legato clean guitars with light percussion. Boy, does the sadness come through strong here. It's as if everyone in your life is suddenly gone, and you are forever alone.

Overall, I prefer harsh vocals in my Doom Metal, because they can really give off a strong sense of the emotions mentioned in the beginning of the album description. Pain and loneliness are themed throughout the album, with desolate guitars and vocals. The emotions are almost too strong, and threaten to overcome you. Don't listen to this album if you are feeling some of these emotions, because it will intensify them greatly. But appreciate the band laying it all out there for the listener, and not holding back at all.