UMUR
"Feretri" is the 3rd full-length studio album by Italian, Genoa based doom/gothic metal act Abysmal Grief. The album was released through Terror from Hell Records in February 2013. Abysmal Grief was formed as far back as 1995, but didn´t release their self-titled debut full-length studio album before 2007. On "Feretri" they are a three-piece consisting of Lord Alastair (Bass), Regen Graves (Guitars, Drums) and Labes C. Necrothytus (Keyboards, Vocals).
Stylistically the music on "Feretri" is a dark gothic tinged doom metal style. It´s like listening to a combination of the early gloomy Cathedral and a Goblin soundtrack to a Dario Argento horror/giallo movie (the cover artwork is in fact taken from the giallo movie "La dama rossa uccide sette volte (1972)" ("The Red Queen Kills Seven Times")). Add to that deep goth rock type vocals and the occasional black metal vocal outburst and you´re halfway there. It´s crushingly heavy and features an eerie occult atmosphere (and the occasional nod towards heavy rock´n´roll). Songtitles like "Lord of the Funeral" and "Hidden in the Graveyard" should also give you an idea about that, if the cover artwork haven´t already given it away.
The three guys create a thick, distorted and raw sound with heavy riffing and eerie keyboard (mostly organ which provides the music with an organic 70s vibe) themes and atmospheres. They are well playing and the vocal delivery by Labes C. Necrothytus is convincing. He sounds desperate, haunted and on the verge of madness at the same time. The occasional use of extreme vocals provide the music with aggression, which is a great spice. "Feretri" features a raw and gloomy sound production which suits the material well. Overall it´s a quality doom/gothic metal release in the more dark and eerie end of the genre. The omnipresent organ becomes a bit old towards the end of the album, but that´s a minor complaint and taken one by one all tracks are great. A 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.