Would it even matter if you sacrificed or worshipped at an Altar of Oblivion? What is an Altar of Oblivion? If you pray to nothing then prayer doesn't matter? If God isn't real then you would be worshipping nothingness... These are among the many thoughts I had while listening to "Barren Ground" by ALTAR OF OBLIVION. This is music that made me want to think. It's something you listen to alone while on a long drive through the desert or a lone walk in the wilderness. It's something you blast while enjoying a blunt on your back porch (If that is legal where you are, of course). This is music for introspection. It's haunting, it's looming, and it's a voyage into the void of self. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it.

The journey opens with a somber tune and a melancholic voice. At first I was wary but time and time again, Doom Metal proves me wrong. As soon as the main riff hit I was sold. The vocals fit perfectly, in fact everything here works together great. The solos are sick, the riffs are both heavy and catchy, the rhythm section chugs along like a hell-bent funeral procession. It's a rich, deep, solemn sound that bewitches the listener. Since its inception with BLACK SABBATH and other bands that helped lay the groundwork (I'm no historian), Doom Metal has been filled with ominous lyricism. ALTAR OF OBLIVION follows in that vein with dark topics and great choruses. The fact this is only a mini-cd is the real problem, I want a full release from these guys.

Fans of Doom Metal are going to want to grab this one. It's definitely reminiscent of stuff like CANDLEMASS or ST. VITUS. There's only four songs here, one of which is more of an interlude, but the three real songs are just killer. I'm definitely going to start looking out for the other releases from this band because "Barren Grounds" was a great intro. If you're looking for brutality and speed or intensity, this is not for you. This is a mournful, almost phantasmal voyage. ALTAR OF OBLIVION have released a group of songs that encapsulate feelings of solitude and despair, it's a head banger's trip through negativity. It's a ride worth taking.