I was going to start off this review with a comment about the scarcity of Extreme Metal bands in Malaysia, but then a quick search of Malaysia + Active on Metal Archives came up with 490 bands. Well, that was more than I was anticipating. Then I divided that by a population of 33.6 million, because why not and the Internet. That's one Extreme Metal band to every 68,000 citizens in Malaysia. So, yeah, that is how I'll start this review.

TOMB is a Death/Black Metal foursome out of Malaysia (some say Kajang, others Kuala Lumpur-the difference, btw, is 28 km and 8.3 million people). On June 23, 2023 they released their third EP, "The Dark Subconscious," via Iron Bonehead Productions. It's savage, uneven, and completely raw-all good things when it comes to Extreme Metal, so no complaints there. It's also very lo-fi but I'm assuming that this is purely intentional for three reasons. First, this is their third release; second, they're on the Iron Bonehead label; and third, and most importantly, the production values align with the album's theme. The subconscious, after all, is supposed to be murky and unresolved.

"The Dark Subconscious" comprises six tracks-which is a lot for only 15 minutes of runtime-but they manage to pack a lot in. A few surprises on this album: The lead solos on "Occult Eternal Mysteries" break that lo-fi gravity and come across really clear and well-executed. Although they are as brief as everything else on the album, they have a tangible 70's Hard Rock vibe to them. Love it.

I also like the curious texture of the synths which appear on almost every track. They arise from below the surface and have a haunting cosmic ambiance. Composition wise, they are as rudimentary as it gets, but again it syncs nicely with the subconscious theme.
Although there are no interludes or instrumentals, the opening track includes an atmospheric intro complete with monk-like chanted. And the final track, "Nocturnal Rites of Blasphemy," ends with about a full minute of really crisp field recordings. And I use the term 'field recordings' loosely because I'm hoping they didn't capture on tape some undead thing climbing out of their tomb to the tune of a creepy lullaby tapped out on a decrepit piano. But a nice touch bookending an otherwise brutal album with some atmosphere.

Standout tracks are "Black Altar of Sathana," "Occult Eternal Mysteries," and "Black Conjuration of Beleth." I should also note the album cover fuses psych occult aesthetic (purple and black with pentagrams and barbed Celtic-ish borders) with a mosaic of primitive black and white etchings. Striking.

Final analysis: I liked "The Dark Subconscious" more than I thought I would. It is raw, purposeful, and it gets under your skin. Limited runs available on vinyl and CD through Iron Bonehead's website and digital via bandcamp, both linked on this page. If you're low on cash, you can find it streaming on YouTube via the always solid Transmission from the Dark.