Despite how wide and diverse any given style in metal has become over the many years of innovation and sonic exploration, it can be far too easy to neglect certain parts of that spectrum even by accident. When it comes to the likes of doom metal, I find myself all too often steering right towards the far heavier reaches of the sound while not paying enough attention to those that hold back such intensity in favor of focusing on different elements for what doom is capable of bringing forth. As if to answer that very call for a shift in my habits, Gévaudan’s second offering is precisely what I’ve been missing out on for far too long with it offering much more than I could have anticipated.
Even at just a glance, Gévaudan really seemed to be appealing to people like me given the simple fact that “Umbra” is compromised of but one track with it totaling well over 40 minutes, and it goes without saying that my interest was more than peaked! Tackling the many different concepts that surround depression through the impressively imposing lens of eldritch horror to make for a fitting yet incredibly intimidating take on the subject, “Umbra” has a lot to offer with its particular blend of doom not afraid to dabble in the progressive or epic to really expand the scope of what the massive effort is willing to take on with Gévaudan proving exceptional in virtually all of them. Be it the fantastic vocals that keep you rooted in place, the thematic approach whose effects never wane from start to finish, or the constant ebbing and flowing of Gévaudan’s dense yet deliciously organic sound, this is an effort the likes of which the band in question should be incredibly proud of. It’s far more than a collection of simple riffs with a thin veil of smoke to masquerade as psychedelia, this is what happens when a band truly finds their own sound and falls fully into it.
While this act has its entire future to really solidify that sound and make a name for themselves years after all of this, “Umbra” is a strong sign of great things to come from Gévaudan for if this is what the band can deliver on what’s just their second release then I shudder to think what else is to follow. Much has been accomplished in these 43 minutes with Gévaudan putting on a grand display for the absolute entirety of it, and I know damn well that “Umbra” is destined to be a standout release for Gévaudan no matter what it is that comes next.
“Umbra” releases on October 13th!
PRE-ORDER “Umbra” on Bandcamp here.
LISTEN to a preview of “Umbra” via YouTube here, or below.
LIKE Gévaudan on Facebook here.
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