Hear Hooded Menace’s New Album A Day Early

For more than two decades, Hooded Menace have stood as the pillar between two realms of underground metal. The Finnish band are still transfixed by classic horror on their monumental new album. But Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration only goes to show that these stewards of death-doom remain far from stuck in their ways.

“…if Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration doesn’t match Tritonus [Bell], it reiterates the trio’s true north”, writes Decibel in an 8/10 review. “Four seven-minute tracks comprise the heart and guts of the album, keening boom/gloom workouts of hammer-and-anvil classicism”.

“Lasse Pyykkö has once again infused the new album with a blend of their signature crushing heaviness and a daring sense of innovation”, hails New Noise.

Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration comes out tomorrow, Friday, October 3, but you can hear all seven earthshaking tracks today by listening to the full album stream on the Season of Mist YouTube channel.

Listen

Pre-save on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/3Os1kbdsMgl805olZjrZUrAsk the band anything about Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration during tomorrow’s Reddit AMA.Hooded Menace AMA
r/Metal
Friday, October 3 @ Noon EST / 18 CESTJoin
https://www.reddit.com/r/Metal/comments/1nr7jx3/hooded_menace_ama/

The undead spirit that’s guided Hooded Menace since its 2007 conception still stands watch over Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration. Cover artist Wes Benscoter recreates the Blind Dead in all their glowingly ghoulish glory.  “Pale Masquerade” summons film director Amando de Ossorio’s flesh-eating muse with a fresh heap of founding member Lasse Pyykkö’s bone-crunching chugs.  But while the lasting influence of Candlemass and Paradise Lost hasn’t vanished without a ghostly trace, the band continue to break the mold that they set for death-doom. Neon keys beam through opener “Twilight Passages” as if firing up a time machine.

Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration hammers home the classic ‘80s heavy metal influence that Hooded Menace rung in on their last long-player The Tritonus Bell. As if from a trance, drums snap into a gallop amidst blistering leads dripped with neon. “Lugubrious Dance” twists between the hallucinogenic spires of Cathedral in conspiracy with King Diamond before cranking into a chorus that’s classic Hooded Menace. Even traditional death-doomers will scream with delight upon hearing the band cover Duran Duran’s “Save a Prayer” with their blood-soaked signature.

MicroPitching and other effects aren’t the only tricks pulled out from under Hooded Menace’s cloak on Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration. What should appear from beneath Pekka Koskelo’s swirling double bass on lead single “Portrait Without a Face” but the deeply haunting moan of a cello. Like an echo from beyond the grave, the cry of strings reappears during the album’s grand finale. Former live bassist Antti Poutanen sorrowfully saws as the band marches, gallops then sinks back “Into Haunted Oblivion”.

“Resonate in utter darkness“, Harri Kuokkanen beckons with growls that reek of the crypt.

With Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration, Hooded Menace cast death-doom in a ghoulish new light.

More advanced praise for Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration

More praise for Hooded Menace

“Hooded Menace have consistently succeeded in boasting a bludgeon of unruly extremity” – Angry Metal Guy

“As always, hail Lasse” – BangerTV

“After the riffs fade into the cavern’s ancient silence, the shrouded specters turn and watch Pyykkö, a hoodie casting shadows over his eyes. In unison, they nod in approval. Fade to black” – Decibel

“…it’s good to see metal’s customary dance with past being respected and admired, but also put to enlightened use” – Metal Injection

“Finland’s Hooded Menace strike big” – Invisible Oranges

“If horror/ doom / death is a sub-genre, Hooded Menace is undoubtedly its master” – Last Rites

“…they have proven risks can pay off” – Distorted Sound

“Hooded Menace’s approach to death and doom gives listeners an array of hard-hitting and darkly sublime cuts” – Treble

“Hooded Menace are back to put on a death-doom clinic” – Everything Is Noise

“Hooded Menace cement their status at the forefront of modern death/doom and prove Pyykkö’s songwriting prowess once again” – Toilet Ov Hell

“…these Finns started and perfected this modern death/doom sound that everyone has been aping for the past decade, so it is always good to see the originators back in action” – The Sleeping Shaman

“They manage to separate themselves with a more diverse sound that constantly changes and avoids the generic death metal templates” – MetalBite

“Death-Doom’s most consistent band” – The Metal Meltdown

“These guys know how to write devastatingly killer dual guitar work” – Forgemaster Metal (Best Doom Metal Albums of 2021) 

Twilight Passages (1:04) Pale Masquearade (7:50) Portrait Without a Face (7:15) Daughters of Lingering Pain (7:25) Lugubrious Dance (7:20) Save a Prayer (6:12) Into Haunted Oblivion (9:47)