OPHIS is a German death/doom band that formed in 2001. "Spew Forth Odium" is their fifth full length album. They have also released a Demo, an EP, a split plus a compilation. Considering "The Dismal Circle" has become one of my favorite doom albums, I've been looking forward to "Spew Forth Odium" for some time now. Not only am I not disappointed, I am completely enamored with this album-as of the writing of this review, it is one of my most played albums of the month.  What makes the album so good?

Its dynamics. Although still dark and gloomy as a funeral, OPHIS have brought out a lot more melody from their deep well of doom this time around. Not only that but the melodies, at least to me, have a Gothic feel to them. These more morose elements really enhance the band's already bleak atmosphere. This is perhaps due to some line up changes which introduces drummer Ola Fink and guitarist Floris, who have been with the band since 2019 but are making their recorded debut here.  Ola's drumming certainly elevates the songs with a hard hitting approach that compliments each surrounding note. Floris and sole original member Philipp Kruppa clearly make a good team and understand how to approach these songs while also understanding each other's style.

Another aspect that stands out to me is how goddamn catchy some of these songs are. It is a testament to the song writing presented on the album that OPHIS can take such detailed, long, and macabre songs and make them so they get stuck in my head for days. The production catches all this in a way that makes the album sound robust and heavy. Honestly, I would prefer something a bit more gritty like was presented on "The Dismal Circle" but I can't have everything.

The album opens with "Default Empty," which immediately throws you into the void with crushing riffs and sorrowful melodies. The bass and drums send deep rumblings that ripple, sending the  sound further into darkness. Oliver's bass is just MASSIVE and the music sounds so full and encompassing because of his playing. The notes quickly turn evil and damp with decay as the band turns the wheel to steer the song even closer to an unseen edge. And how about Phillip's vocals? The man just sounds better as the years go by--his growls and screams are top tier. The middle portion of the song has the lead guitar laying harmonies on top of the stone heavy riffs. Afterwards it all blends into a huge wall of sound with Phillip growling like a caged animal against the wall.

"Of Stygian Decent," opens with riffs that could stop a train in its tracks. I like how the drums lay down the notes just as the rhythm guitar drops the hammer. The tempo and cadence of this song is steady but unrelenting. The band isn't afraid to suddenly change direction (something I feel doom is often lacking in) and take a quieter approach with clean melodies and low clean Whispers. With a harrowing scream, devastating yet catchy riffs bring the song back around as it smoothly enters a Gothic doom tinged passage. A more intense set of riffs and bass barrel out from the gloom as the band throws death metal on top of this rotten heaping pile.

"Conflagration Eternal," proves that doom doesn't always have to be slow; sometimes it is more about tone and feeling than speed or lack therefore of. And this song feels like the end of the world.  Listen to those riffs.......madness I tell you! And the melody sprinkled on top just make them sound all the more insane. Around the five minute mark, the guitars go into a slow groove. As they come out of it, the notes hang in the air while the vocals and drums drop bombs.  The song Crescendos into death metal fury before entering an a foggy passage. The last few minutes of the song features the vocals getting more brutal as the song levels off into a clean and spacious ending. This song is eleven minutes long and every second is enjoyable.

"Temple of Scourges," has riffs that are so thick they made my ears seem like they were filling up, drowning me in an audible tomb. The first few minutes is doom the way I like it: slow and hopeless. The song speeds up as it goes along with the double bass throwing out earthquakes against the riffs. The halfway point let's the guitars shine without any distortion. Then the bottom falls out and the riffs and bass sweep it all up and push out the other side where the drums pulverize it all to pieces.

"The Perennial Wound," is perhaps the most somber song on the album. I really appreciate that OPHIS recognizes that death doom doesn't always have to be brutal, that it too can bring in these other elements without comprising its effectiveness. The song is a dirge for four minutes and then the song's undercurrent of heavier desires comes out, like a snake slithering after its prey. The song is a living struggle. The drums act as the snake bites, the guitars and bass are the struggle of the dying victim and the vocals are the vicious but needed aggression of nature.

And now comes the last track, the 13 minute doom epic that is "The Stagnant Room." The full breadth of the band's vision for the album is represented here.  Every piece of the song is meticulously held together by the unbroken darkness. The drums and bass hold down the rhythm as the riffs twist and turn, traveling down the road that is the song. Along the path, enchanting but sick melodies are found.  A deep, harrowing growl pierces the nightmare, only to bring its own kind of tortured pain. Phillip sounds frightening! Around the 5:40 mark, clean notes note the clearing of this hellish storm but bright skies aren't to be found. Instead a rain of melodic guitar and bass arrive and bring with it spoke word, a nice touch that fills out this world with detail. The song actually sounds black metal to me in the later half especially with the inhuman drumming and the riffs. Every band has that "one" album that a fan will always like the most.

For me, that is "The Dismal Circle." "Spew Forth Odium" may not beat it in my eyes but it comes damn close. As the year winds down, this is one album every doom fan should take the time to listen to.