Doomnezeu - Doomnezeu (2023)
By Flork
I remember visiting Transylvania at the end of 2021 while the Covid pandemic was still taking its toll around the globe. I made my way from the socialist apartment blocks of Bucharest all the way to Brașov on the edge of the Transylvianian Alps, my destination being Daracula’s castle. I don’t remember the misty, gothic landscapes of Transylvania as I had imagined from Nosferatu, nor did the country remind me in any way of the Adam’s Family, instead, I absorbed the vibes of the towns and landscape and caught a glimpse of what life in Transylvania is all about. I also ate loads of mici and sarmale and flirted with Romanian hotties and milfs (unsuccessfully I must add, since I come across as even creepier than Orlok) and payed no attention to the warnings of bear attacks in the woods and sometimes in the towns. I read Mircea Cartarescu in the train and ate packaged baklava from Kaufland in my hotel room. I loved every minute of it. And so, while listening to Doomnezeu’s self-titled album, especially the first track La Viflaim Colo-n Jos (Down Below in Bethlehem), I’m reminded of my journey through the land of witches and vampires, through slow, reverberating doom metal with deep stoner rock influences. This collection, which was released in 2023, is a compilation of the band’s first six singles in their original order, and stands somewhat as a contemplative monolith of atmosphere, tension, and sonic weight.
According to the info I could find about them (the band is somewhat elusive and private), the album was recorded between December 2019 and February 2022 in an air raid bunker in fact, giving the album’s production a cavernous and spectral feel. The collection, which was released in 2023, is a compilation of the band’s first six singles in their original order, and stands somewhat as a contemplative monolith of atmosphere, tension, and sonic weight. In fact, every note is soaked in a haunting, otherworldly echo. The pacing through each track is deliberately slow with an ominous trance-like effect that pulls the listener into a meditative haze. The compositions unfold like rituals, each one an like an incantation of despair, mystery, and deep introspection. You can hear elements of doom, stoner, and acid rock, all of which are set in both a background and foreground of Eastern Christianity, with its solemn, liturgical atmosphere lending a spiritual weight to the compositions. Take Crede și nu cerceta (Believe and do not Question) for example. This is a phrase that reflects faith without doubt or inquiry and is often linked to religious or spiritual contexts, totally befitting of the themes throughout the album (and also my favourite track).
Some of you may draw comparisons to Black Sabbath, and this is totally understandable. The album incorporates doom-laden riffing with medieval plainsong, yet is also underscored by subtle, black metal elements. The result is a unique gothic blend that feels both ancient and contemporary, as well as sacred and profane. Standout tracks like Deșertăciune (Futility) are perfect examples of the crushing weight of doom—slow and reverbed with no shortage of gothic ambience. Kranioutopos (Land of Skulls) contrasts between the acoustic guitar in the intro and the rich textures and psychedelia towards its finale. The other tracks, Pe Tine Te Fericim and Lazăr, follow similar lines with haunting vocal passages, subtle instrumental flourishes, as well as atmospheric enhancements, all of which shape Doomnezeu’s unique identity—one that exists in the liminal space between doom metal’s monolithic weight and stoner rock’s psychedelic sprawl.
And Flork’s prognosis? Doomnezeu is a slow-burning, soul-crushing opus that lingers long after the final echoes fade. There is an undeniable rawness to the album, yet it never feels unpolished. Instead, the album’s organic production and unhurried pacing make for an immersive experience, best absorbed in its entirety. I definitely must return to Romania.
On a final note, Doomnezeu will be embarking on a tour across Romania in April 2025, performing between the 9th and 17th. They’ll be taking their haunting sound through cities across Transylvania, including Sibiu and Brașov, as well as larger hubs like Bucharest and Timișoara. This is a rare opportunity to experience their ethereal live presence (they have some pretty cool concert clips on YouTube) in some of Romania’s most atmospheric settings.
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