I first heard ATARAXIE nearly 15 years ago, a friend of mine was heavily into Funeral Doom and had recommended their debut full-length to me. I cannot believe I’m listening to their brand new album in 2024. Doom isn’t necessarily for the impatient, particularly ATARAXIE’s version of Death / Doom, which meanders on the edges of Funeral Doom. A good comparison would be MOURNFUL CONGREGATION, although ATARXIE’s atmosphere is a notch lower in comparison. ATARAXIE however makes it up by keeping the vocals super interesting. The vocalist uses all the mechanisms to vent out anguish, as the music slowly builds up note by note. This is perhaps how the band keeps the listener drowned in their collective sorrow over the course of 80 odd minutes of music. The band adds in elements one by one and works their way towards building a canvas that they keep expanding upon. The entire album feels like a single track, which is both, a good and a bad thing. A good thing because you feel the continuity of the blatant burden stretching through your senses, a bad thing because I wouldn’t be able to pinpoint a certain section of their music to be from a particular song. It all feels like part of a monolith to me. Guitars like giant’s footsteps, heavy, slow and prominent, the drums feel like distant echoes in the forest, always accompanying and in the background. I have to say ATARAXIE’s music is definitely for the fan of the sub-genre and not everyone will feel at ease to absorb the decay portrayed as art. Every movement on this album has a specific purpose, each fulfilling a vision towards capturing a derelict landscape filled with despair and hopelessness. ATARAXIE has put out a phenomenal album that the fans of the sub-genre must check out. Highly recommended! For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/ataraxiedoom or www.facebook.com/arduamusiclabel