Here we have a band who insists in playing hones and true Old School Doom Metal from the start. No contemporary shenanigans, no extra sounds are used or needed. That at least explains why VAST PYRE gained a contract at the Octopus Rising/Argonauta Records label, which specialises in that kind of music. In the five years of existence they have made it to their sophomore album "II Bleak",  which came to us on 28 November 2025, just 15 months after their debut album "Vast Pyre". I was wondering why nobody had taken on this review before me, and was curious to find out. That is why is requested to be able to review this one myself.

Well, first off let me tell you that if you do not like your Old School Doom Metal slow and deliberate, you really need to stay away from VAST PYRE. They have the ability to go slow, but also very Heavy in a rather low toned sound, making it all come out in a very menacing and threatening way. And even though there are only five tracks on "II Bleak", the running  time of the album is over 43 minutes. This does mean that the band have taken their time to inject all their ideas into the tunes, and given them all the time to come to fruition in a proper way. That does count as being mature about the music you make, and if VAST PYRE comes over as anything, it is at least as a mature band.

Even though I think that "II Bleak" houses some good music and good tunes, there is something niggling at my conscience, telling me that not all is as well as I myself had hoped for. After a few listening sessions it dawned on me what that was; the songs just don't stick. You forget about them almost as soon as the track has ended. And that should not be the case. Usually once I stop listening to an album some parts keep popping up in my head. Now; nothing, nada, zilch. And that is a pity, as I feel that this is purely down to me and my interpretation of what I'm listening to. The thing is, the real Doom Metal afficionado will undoubtedly get thoroughly excited and/or aroused by what's on offer on "II Bleak", as this album houses everything the Old School Doom Metal lover can wish for.