The Metal scene isn’t fair, because there are tons of bands that passed by and only a few has heard, even with excellent works. It means that all Metal fans must pay attention to newspapers and mags of the genre, especially for countries that are saw as breeding grounds for this or that specific Metal genre. As an example, many think that only UK or USA has good acts into Doom Metal tendencies, and it’s not true. One very good name that isn’t as recognized as it deserves is of EXCRUCIATION, a Swiss pioneer of the genre, active since 1989. But even in this way, the quintet is still here, releasing new material from time to time, and here is “[P]Ain”, their new album.

Mario Dahmen was brought to work on the production, sound engineering of drums and guitars, reamping, mixing and mastering, with Eugenio Meccariello, Marcel Bosshart, and D.D. Lowinger (all of them members of the band) did the engineering of their own musical instruments. All to create a clean, defined and funeral sonority that fits on the band’s musical work, with Phol (on additional guitars) and Leandro Pacheco (lead guitar on “Victima Dei”) as guests. And to shape their music, Bahrull Marta created a somber artwork, done in tons of black, white and gray. The band plays a sinister and somber form of traditional Doom Metal, with all that weight inherited from BLACK SABBATH on the 70s, but always with sophistication on the creation of the instrumental arrangements (especially due some synths parts). The band’s music is dynamical and somber, full of that melancholic appeal that oppresses the fans’, and that they love while thinking about how life is short. And it’s really excellent!.

If you’re into Doom Metal classic forms, “[P]Ain” was created for you, as shown on moments as “God” (pay attention as some darkened guitars’ arrangements fill the spaces), “While the Mourners are Passing By” (a funeral lament in form of music, with oppressive ambiences and good vocals lying on the instrumental sheath), “Bleeding” (here is a song with a more dynamical set of tempos, with simple and heavy work on bass guitar and drums), “Victima Dei” (an oppressing feeling comes from the ambiences, with many good bass guitar parts), “Riding the Night” and “Darker” (both bringing the band’s music into a more Doom Gothic shape, with elegant and funeral instrumental arrangements), and “Pleasuredome for the Wicked”.

For now, these Swiss Doom Metal pioneers deserve respect, so listen to “[P]Ain” and enjoy this offering done by EXCRUCIATION. And by the way, it seems that the South American version will have two extra songs: “In Every Dream a Heartache” and “Repent, Sinners!” (that was released as a Single alone on 2021).