This review is a testament to how much music is really out there. Before receiving this promo, I’ve never heard of FORGOTTEN TOMB and I’ve been listening to underground music for years. Their latest release, “Nightfloating’ is their eleventh full-length album, in addition to have also released a demo, a EP and a split. What the hell? I’ve missed that much? Oh well, better late than never, right? Unfortunately, I never had the chance to listen to any of their previous albums before I wrote this review. But going in totally blind just means I don’t have any preconceived notions and I can enjoy this Italian band’s new album with a clean slate. And enjoy it I do. What an album! The combination of black and death doom is convincing to a very high degree. On top of that already sterling combination, they have plenty of melody and atmosphere to go along with it. The six rack, 41 minute runtime is quite the explorative journey across a sullen landscape that is dynamic and detailed.

The depressive atmosphere is great but what’s equally important is they don’t rely solely on soundscapes or liminal spaces. This is very much a guitar driven album with a lot of riffs, melodies, harmonies. It isn’t flashing, way too despondent for that, but it has a lot going for it guitar wise. With that being said, it is as euphonious as it is bleak so, in that respect, it offers a surprisingly dynamic sound. The opening, and title, song primes their destitute approach with darky melodies that offer as much to the framework as the actual riffs. They take an aggressive, faster path just before the song’s halfway mark. As both a great opening song and title track, this one gives an overall idea as to what the remaining six songs will offer. “This Sickness Withered My Heart,” explodes with an arcane blackened scream as the song dives headfirst into disgusting atmosphere and harrowing energy. The drums are powerful, alongside the bass so that each of them compliment the song while holding down the rhythm and low end.

I like how the drums always keep the song intense even when the harmonies swirl together at its most adventurous level. After the 3:45 mark, the song reminds me of post metal, especially without the guitars turning into a wall of sound even as they resonant offer each other. The final song, “A Despicable Gift,” is almost 11 minutes long and offers a lot of great moments, especially the opening grooves from the bass and guitar. The middle portion is straight up extreme blackened evil wrapped up in a doomed out tempo, leading to a clean portion that is emotive, finishing the song out with a killer guitar solo and blackened screams. FORGOTTEN TOMB’s “Nightfloating,” is a powerful statement of what blackened doom can offer and also a searing example of how melody can be incorporated into these dark genres without loosing one iota of grit and guile.