Hailing from the Ukraine, Mental Torment is here to cast its lot in the Funeral Doom genre. With some touches of Death Metal and maybe some slight Gothic undertones, there are primarily echoes of mid-era Paradise Lost, Swallow The Sun, and Katatonia. I mention the last band and the Gothic feel because there are unique moments in the guitar playing and slightly different musical flourishes that accentuate the overall songwriting. It is not just a monolith of sound and drudgery. These elements lend a vital and interesting touch to the depressive atmosphere. There are minor background keyboard accents, but the mood is primarily conveyed through the sound of the band and the vocalists’ more expressive delivery. You can say and hear at moments he has an approach similar to the vocalist from Funeralium. Take a listen to ‘Pisok’, I feel this song best represents the overall sound and tone of the album.
With only one song being at 10 minutes and most about the 8-minute mark, you are not getting too overwhelmed or are one with a short attention span. Speaking personally, I am not a huge fan of all Doom metal and tend to be quite choosey in what I like, and I can say now that they held my interest for the 48-minute runtime. I feel that the band’s unique songwriting approach and song length help them in this regard.
The production is great, with a warm overall approach and a very full sound. I also must make mention of the unique cover art. It is not typical but fits the overall mood very well. I don’t know that language and how much it relates to the lyrics themselves, but I felt a tie-in to the overall sound and mood when I looked at it. Apparently, it was done by the guitar player of the band, so props to her.
So, for all you Doom aficionados out there, take a dive into Mental Torment for yourselves and see if they pique your fancy.
