INVERNOIR is a Gothic/Doom Metal band formed in Rome, Italy, in 2018. "The Void and the Unbearable Loss" is the band's debut album, and contains eight tracks. The title track kicks off the album. It opens with the soft sound of rain, and clean, depressing guitar notes. About half way in, a distorted guitar riff drops, heavy and hard, but still with that sense of sadness. The drums work into a beat, and guttural vocals follow suit. "The Path" opens with distorted guitars and a little quicker pace. Vocals are harsh at first, then clean in the chorus. The melancholy nature of the music is fully displayed. It makes you ache in ways you have never experienced before. It finished with what sounds like violin notes, and clean vocals of despair.

"House of Debris" is just a little shorter. It begins with some doleful guitar notes and some background chanting. The harsh vocals lament...tearing you apart. The clean vocals and screams are equally as effective. I like the trade-off between the two, as well as the vocal harmonies. Around the half-way mark, it drops to just some solitary clean guitars and vocals, finishing with anguished screams. "Suspended Alive" opens with more dreary rain falling and doleful clean guitars. Harsh vocals and distorted guitars drop, and it's a gut-wrenching affair. Some clean vocals mix in with the harsh vocals, creating layers of depression. A key change along with some whispered vocals takes the song in a new direction.

"Cast Away" begins with this charming melody in the guitars, giving you a glimmer of hope. The clean vocals are but a dream, floating in front of you, but out of your reach. The harsh vocals quickly dash any hopes you may have had. Dual clean vocals and lead guitar notes really hit you hard...they are so emotional. "The Burden" opens with a slow groove, and low, distorted guitar notes. The harsh vocals tear your soul into pieces. But, the clean vocals add a little reprieve from the hardened nature of the track. "At Night" begins with a full, rich sound, created by guitar layers and a pounding bass, rhythm and drum section. As it moves forward, the Doom elements become stronger, leaving you with a profound senses of loss. The clean vocals and guitars in the end support this great burden.

"The Loneliest" closes the album. Some clean guitars lead to harmonized vocals. Harsh vocals and distorted guitars join the fold and absolutely wipe out any of the mellow sound in the opening, which returns in the end. Overall, this was an excellent album that took Doom metal to new dimensions with the addition of clean vocals as well as some melodic guitars. When you think of Doom, you think of very long songs and slow, lumbering tracks with guttural vocals that just gets old after a while. This was a fresh take on the genre, without sacrificing that totally dejected feeling you get from the music. Highly recommend.