CONCLAVE is a doom/sludge band from Massachusetts. "Dawn Of Days" is their second full length album. They also released an EP in 2014. "Dawn Of Days" is an album that deserves to be played for days. This five track, forty five minute long album is the perfect length (with perfect pacing as well) to be played over and over again. And you'll want to do that because every second of this album pulls you in.

The songwriting and composition skills on display here reaches high for the doom metal apex. Across the musical landscape, there are moments of sheer brutality, catchy groove, and just down right beautiful moments.  There is a lot of variety on display here and each piece fits together with the others. Overall, there is a big stoner vibe here especially with the huge, dirty riffs...of which there seems to be an unending supply. But CONCLAVE is so much darker than your average stoner doom band and also much more crushing and dynamic.

The album opens with the title track, complete with a creepy and macabre clean intro. The bass and drums give it a progressive feel, very expansive yet straightforward.  Around the 1:34 mark, the fuzz kicks in with the gravel vocals of Jerry whose voice is a combination of death growls and rough cleans that were ran through gravel after being pushed into a meat grinder. The guitar solos in this song are on the psychedelic side of doom, very trippy. The rhythm guitar that backs up the solos are just drenched in headbanging groove. I challenge you not to go insane at the five minute mark...those riffs are just so damn tasty.

"Death Blows Cold," builds up with small pieces at a time. Wind effects can be heard as the drums roll up behind them for the guitars to make their entrance. By the 1:23 mark, the band is a musical steamroller.....this is just an epic display of the power of doom metal. At the 3:53 mark, absolutely filthy bass slow grinds the song into the grave. "Haggard" sees the band going for tighter, more intricate riffs. That smoky guitar solo glides over them before the band goes into chaos mode. This song is one riff after another, each one thicker and more full than the last. "Haggard" demands headphones so that fat guitar and bass can reach your brain even quicker.

Dark yet moving melodies start "Thrown On Spikes," but it's the aggressive chorus and focused drumming that make the song one of the more intense ones. The vocals and rhythm find an inseparable groove that keeps the song flowing nicely.  The lead guitar changes the tune to more horror themed with the surreal leads towards the songs end. And then we come to "Suicide Funeral" which is the album's best...just a brilliant song. The opening melodies are tragically pretty and the bass underneath them is immense.   The song ebbs and flows, alternating between a focus on anvil heavy riffs and more melodic moments.

From 9:30 all the way to the end is so moving and emotionally charged that I question the sanity of anyone who doesn't get something out of it. The gorgeous bluesy guitar solo melds perfectly with the clean riffs and the drums compliment all these elements. A stunning end to an already stunning album. CONCLAVES "Dawn of Days" is a doom album worthy of your time and money. If you miss out, you'll be reminded because this will no doubt be an album that will burn up the underground .