Doom Metal gained strong credibility due the works of CANDLEMASS, TROUBLE, MY DYING BRIDE, CATHEDRAL and PARADISE LOST, because each of these acts caused a revolution in the genre by themselves alone, creating new ways and models to be used in the future. Then the bands of Doom Metal that came after them have a huge weight to deal with that is show personality. But the Finnish quintet BELL OF MIMIR shows courage to do great things on “Nocturne”, its first full-length. Olli Karhu took care of the album’s recordings, while Atte Karm signs the mixing and mastering. It seems that the quintet’s members took their love for early Doom Metal works to the studio, because the sonority follows the rough and filthy ways of the genre’s past, what can turn things hard to be understood.

It’s extremely raw, so better luck on the next release. Even following a path with raw approach on the sonority, one can check that the quintet has a Doom Metal/Epic Metal side influenced by CANDLEMASS, and do it in a personal way, with very good melodies entangling with that funereal ambiences that are usual for the genre with solid instrumental parts and very good singing. But (as told above), the sonority of the album fuzz everything sometimes.

But for Doom Metal fans, songs as “Nocturne”, “Dark and Silent”, “Spell of Doom”, “Folding”, “Nightfall” and “Devil’s Garden” are moments that’ll have a deep appeal, with sinister and epic moments contrasting with the abrasive and nasty flavor of classic Doom Metal was, with fine vocals, nasty guitar riffs (the use of 12-guitars in some moments was a wise decision), and heavy bass guitar and drums slow tempos.

The only problem with “Nocturne” resides on its sonority. But if you can deal with it, BELL OF MIMIR is your next musical passion, be sure of it.