As long as the fusion of the bitter and slower approach of Doom Metal met Death Metal natural aggressive insight in the beginning of the 90's, Doom Death Metal was born. And as the genres solid foundations, one can state MY DYING BRIDE's "As the Flowers Whither" and "Turn Loose the Swans"; PARADISE LOST's "Lost Paradise" and "Gothic"; and ANATHEMA's "The Crestfallen" and  "Serenades". Obviously that more was done and even Black Metal started to fragment as well, with bands creating a morbid and nasty sonority with elegant melancholic ambiances. This is the case of SOJOURNER, as can be heard on "Premonitions", the band's latest release.

Their music is a mix between Death Metal and Black Metal influences being drowned into a Gothic/Doom Metal elegant form. It's not new, many used such approach since the second half 90's, but in their hands, it shows and very good set of melancholic melodies, a deeper feeling and introspective ambiances, with some aggressive moments (as can be heard on "Fatal Frame"). It's nothing new at all, their works is truly good. Mike Lamb worked as producer, sound engineer and assisted the band during the recording sessions, leaving the mixing and mastering to the hands of Øystein Garnes Brun (BORKNAGAR's founder). The sonority is a mix between and Old School extreme Metal harsh and crude approach with a clean aesthetics. On this part, everything sounds in a very good way, besides the instrumental tunes could be a bit cleaner.

They use a melancholic approach, showing eight very good songs, but "The Monolith" (a fine mix between elegant Gothic/Doom Metal influences with the harsh aggressiveness of Doom Death Metal, with charming female chants), "Eulogy for the Lost" (a tender and melancholic feeling fills this song's melodies, and it shows fine guitars and keyboards' parts), "Talas" (a deep and melodic song, focused on female voices and keyboards, but with and aggressive energy at its end), and "The Deluge" (very good rhythmic work from bass guitar and drums) are their best shots. It's very good, indeed.

Some can say that the band's musical formula is eroded, but with the work of SOJOURNER on "Premonitions", even being in this way, the album sounds great.