Release Date: October 03rd 2025. Record Label: Season Of Mist. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration - Tracklisting
1. Twilight Passages (1:04)
2. Pale Masquerade (7:50)
3. Portrait Without a Face (7:15)
4. Daughters of Lingering Pain (7:25)
5. Lugubrious Dance (7:20)
6. Save a Prayer (6:12)
7. Into Haunted Oblivion (9:47)
Members
Harri Kuokkanen — Vocals
Lasse Pyykkö — Guitar, Bass, Keyboards
Pekka Koskelo — Drums
Review
Hooded Menace continue their journey into the depths of Extreme Meal with their trademark style of Death Metal and Doom Metal combining for a punishing round of CLASSIC HEAVY METAL and pulsating melodies within the seventh full length album Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration. There’s something for everyone with Hooded Menace playing strands of Melodic Death, Psych, Prog, and Groove Metal which sees them perhaps deliver their most commercially appealing record to date but still keeping their legendary status of Death Dealers of the highest order intact.
The seven tracks on offer here allows Hooded Menace to play that intense style of NWOBHM guitars that reminds of bands such as IRON MAIDEN and METALLICA in places but with a unique style of Death Metal keeping everything firmly on the right side of darkness. The technical riff-wizardry is beyond spectacular which appears very early on the record after the superb opening instrumental track of Twilight Passages. After that song disappears, Hooded Menace transform into riff-hungry MONSTERS delivering an excellent blend of Progressive and Theatrical passages on tracks such as Pale Masquerade and Portrait Without A Face.
Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration does feel that Hooded Menace are going back to their roots while embracing a more vibrant Post-Doom charge with the flashes of psychedelic surroundings. The vocals are mostly Death Metal based but they’re easy to fully understand with Harri’s own spectacular form and putting in a committed and commanding performance.
The record works at its best when Hooded Menace lean into a softer and laid-back style of music which allows the more highly technical aspects to be more grounded and quite accomplished which the band have become experts at over the last couple of records they’ve released. Up next is the the tracks of Daughters Of Lingering Pain and Luguburious Dance which sees the Death Metal charge take complete control with the hidden levels of Doom & Gloom conjure up warped melodies once more but with quite an emotional kick. The music moves from classic Eighties Heavy Metal right upto modern day Blackened Death & Roll attitude with thrilling orchestral music being played along the way.
The biggest surprise from the record is the band’s surprising choice of cover with Hooded Menace selecting the DURAN DURAN classic track Save A Prayer. This is wholly different to the original as it’s full on Death/Doom Metal makeover that’s complete with fast-paced technical beatdowns and grinded rhythms though it’s the work of Lasse Pyykkö (Guitar, Bass, Keyboards) and Pekka Koskelo (Drums) that steal the show here. As they transform a new wave/synth-pop classic into a thunderous Doom/Death Metal anthem. Harri’s vocals add their own unique spin compared to that of the legendary Simon Le Bon.
The final track of Into Haunted Oblivion is classic HOODED MENACE through and through which is the most “old-school” track on the whole album with the band playing an almost ten minutes epic that is one of the standout tracks on the album. This is the type of music that the band made their name with and it’s an epic conclusion to an outstanding record with the heaviest and insanely fast-paced grooves on the whole record.
Lingering Pain and Luguburious Dance is another huge sounding and essential record from Hooded Menace which sees them firmly establishing their “LEGENDARY” status within the Death/Doom Metal scene and they still have the power to surprise fans of their music once more.
Words by Steve Howe
Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Season Of Mist.
Links
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