GARGOYLE is an Italian band that combines a myriad of genres together, specifically Doom, Black, and Death Metal.  They formed in 2016 and released a demo in the same year; "Hail To The Necrodoom" is their full length debut.

This is a fun album and I enjoyed the time I spent with it, due to the large amount of variety found within its nine track, 42 minute run time.  It is a little campy here and there but that is also part of the appeal as it lets their horror shtick shine through.  The band, however, is comprised of a deadly serious group of musicians that have crafted a well written album. Although the production is modern, they do have a vintage feel to their sound, which isn't really surprising.  I actually think it works for them, especially the doom elements as it gives the album a traditional vibe to go along with the extreme elements.  All these atmospheres and ideas are thrown together to produce sounds that will appeal to many different kinds of metalheads and genre snobs.

The black and death metal elements are never overpowering-they are used as tools to progress the sound rather than take control of it.  As such, this album has a playful and theatrical presentation to it but still gets brutal when it needs to. The album begins with "Entering The Dream," a two minute intro that uses an organ to set the tone.  It isn't overly ambitious but is a good intro for what the listener is getting into.  The title track is up next with twisting riffs and powerful, crisp drumming.  The bass is audible behind all this and provides a deep low end.  Brutally fast riffs soon arrive, along with the growls and screams.  Creepy clean vocals rear their head on occasion and it adds more theatrics to the proceedings.  Not long after the two minute mark, the song gets more ambient with clean tones that sound like they come out of a horror movie.  It is a nice touch and leads back into the meat of the song in a very natural way.

"Lord Of The Fog," has some strong riffs in it that develop into crazy, helter skelter playing that makes the song feel like it is going insane.  Those clean vocals go a long way into this descent of madness but the song never feels too out there.  The doom focused guitar changes to rapid fire black metal before a weird, clean mid section stretches the band outside its own boundaries then right back into it.  This is a very well done, unique song that shows how strange the band can get while still rocking your face off.

"The Whisper In Darkness," is a crushing track...those riffs are thick as the hell from which they crawled, as are the low death growls.  This is a slow, stalking song like ghosts hanging in limbo waiting for their moment....just creepy and unsettling but also something that demands attention and repeated listens. At the 5:09 mark, the growls and guitar/bass have a contest to see who can get the darkest.....the level of abyss the song sinks into is arresting but something any doom fan will appreciate.

"Nosferatu," has riffs with undeniable groove and energy that builds momentum right off the back.  This is one of the more black metal oriented tracks too.  The riffs are spot on and it feels like the vocals are latching onto them and climbing their way up, not unlike a horror from a recently vacated grave. The mid section of the song is made up of riffs that are spiraling down to the unknown before coming back with a vengeance for the last couple of minutes. All in all, GARGOYLE has released a unique album that combines variety and showmanship with horror and a chance to enjoy a trip down to the void.  "Hail To The Necrodoom" is a different type of doom metal album that needs to be heard.