Hooded Menace - Labyrinth of Carrion Breeze

HOODED MENACE - Labyrinth of Carrion Breeze (DOOMENTIA - MLP 2014)

It’s damn hard to keep track on what Hooded Menace is releasing. They have quite impressive number of split MLPs, split EPs or whatever else, plus there are three killer full length albums behind them. So, one need to really invest big money to get everything, especially when such releases like the split 7” with Asphyx goes for ridiculous money. This is why my collection of Hooded Menace recordings is still poor. But when I saw the newest MLP “Labyrinth of Carrion Breeze” is getting released, I got a copy immediately, before it’s too late. All in all, the last LP “Effigies of Evil” was simply amazing, so I hoped that this 12” MLP will continue this and be also damn impressive.

And definitely the signs of genius can be found in these two songs of “Labyrinth of Carrion Breeze”. I dare to say that all fans of the utterly mournful, dark, sorrowful and fuckin doomy death metal will love it to the bone. Hooded Menace hasn’t changed much, if comparing this MLP to the previous efforts, maybe their music is even more obscure and terrifying, bringing the atmosphere of eerie, ghastly horror in every sound. The first song for that matter, “Chasm of the Wraith” is based upon the old horror movie “Cry of the Banshee” (based on Edgar Alan Poe novel)… Arrghhh, just listen to the intro from the movie, when the head of the coven curses lord Whitman... it sounds so creepy! The band sets a perfect mood for it, basing this song on very slow, massive, heavy riff, with some more harmonious patterns used here and there to make it sound more interesting. The result is brilliant. Nothing innovative, sure, but I like it a lot! And “The Creeping Flesh” (based on the British horror movie of the same title) is even better! It has moments, when the music reminds me the good old Paradise Lost… just listen to these harmonious guitar parts, with slow, doomy background riff... And Lasse Pyykkö’s vocals are utterly deep, abyssal growls all the time. So, everything here is  just as it should be, really.

Ah, I really have listened to this MLP with a great pleasure. I did so several times during last night and damn, what a killer atmosphere it created! Meanwhile I received an info about yet another release of Hooded Menace; a split with Loss. Anyone has some spare money, so I can get myself a copy??

Final rate: 80/100