THORN is a one-man band/project from Phoenix, Arizona that formed in 2020. Brennen Westermeyer is the mastermind behind it all and 'EVERGLOOM' is the third full-length album from the musician. Four EPs and a split have also been released since inception. THORN's brand of extreme metal is no doubt abrasive but, as the title would suggest, also gloomy and despondent as hell. Similar to INCANTATION and ASPHYX, the band's overall sound is rooted in both death and doom. It has many moments that are slow and cavernous but 'EVERGLOOM' is also an album that can be fast and pulverizing as well.

In essence, this album is both atmospheric and brutal. THORN handles the dynamics well, shifting between moods easily but it's always a guaranteed blow to the head regardless of what mode the band is in. The album begins with 'Spectral Realms of Ethereal Light,' and within seconds the landscape is an alien hell, the music clamoring upon you while the vocals beg to pull you under to unfathomable darkness. The drums are impressive-knowing when to barrel at full speed or provide a more complimentary backdrop that accents the madness around it. The keys are subtle, another element designed to fit into the greater whole.

Due to its length and its quiet ending that fades out, I assume this is meant to be an intro but its execution is so much more. I normally skip intros but not this one, especially because it leads into the next song, 'Xenolith of Slime,' perfectly. These two tracks offer a sprawling overview of the album while introducing its core sound. 'Xenolith...,' consists of deadly guitar tones and surreal atmospheric landscapes both swirling into a death/doom beast that is as horrific as it is heavy. The middle portion hammers hard, capped on either end by more atmospheric leanings but just as intense in their own way and no less extreme.

'Wastelands Dimly Lit,' is a display for the band's ability to focus on short, sharp and to the point brutality. This song is an absolute beast of a track but it still squeezes in the otherworldly elements. A brutal song but still one that feels expansive. 'Sapien Death Spiral' is an even shorter romp through the unknown. But this one throws in a killer groove in places and even mixes in ambient textures. In just under two minutes, this song takes you on a journey that some bands spend entire albums telling. 'Thanatos Basileos,' is more of an interlude. It has spoken word in the beginning as the song reaches into the ether for a trippy, spacey experience.

The final track is the title song. It offers a start finality, a culmination of all that has come before it yet though it may not offer a happy ending. The riffs alternate between a doom groove and a death metal mid paced chug but also speed up in places while the keys sprinkle it with dark,  creepy overtones. THORN's 'Evergloom' is a well written album with an incredible atmosphere and imaginative song writing. Fans of death, doom, and atmospheric albums will definitely need to grab a copy of this.