Doom Metal continues to flourish and grow thanks to both the pioneers still in the game and the influx of talented newcomers to the genre. One of the latest to appear out of virtually nowhere, Livid, have just dropped their full-length album, Beneath This Shroud, The Earth Erodes (Prosthetic), and it is a mammoth of an album. The sheer power of the tone mixed with memorable riffs and fantastic drum work keep you wanting more even after forty minutes of stoner doom bliss.

After the quick intro track, ‘Descend’, comes four tracks that take you on a fulfilling, yet crushing journey. ‘Nothing’ starts off by setting the expectation of what to expect from the get go: loud, heavy, slow, and almost depressing. The vocals hit like a sack of bricks as it switches between chanting and a shouted pattern which adds another great character to the overall sound.

‘Sins of God’ has some of the best riffs on the albums as after a few minutes absorbing the first riff, the song suddenly shifts to another that remains heavy yet also flies above the rest of the instruments. ‘The Fire’ hits hard as well but has a great focus on the drum work that literally makes you feel like you are on a pilgrimage somewhere. ‘Into Nothing’ closes out matters with a bang; another epic riff fills the air as the journey hits its final chapter and slowly comes to a crawling finish.

From the very beginning, Livid grabs your attention and does not let go. Beneath This Shroud, The Earth Erodes paints a picture of melancholy and nihilism that stays with you hours after it has ended and drags you back for more. While the Doom Metal scene continues to grow; Livid have released an album that will certainly be one of the gems that stands out from the rest.

9.0/10

 TIM LEDIN