Review Summary: A captivating look into the dark aquatic depths of doom
Five years after establishing themselves with two EPs, Benthic Realm makes the jump to a full album with Vessel. It’s a full commitment to their brand of nautical doom, driven by the same blend of dark trudging riffs and murky atmosphere with more drawn out tempos and sprawling layouts than their previous releases. It feels comparable to something Ahab would do, albeit through a more traditional doom lens with elements of grunge and sludge.
With the lineup being the same trio that recorded 2018’s We Will Not Bow, you can certainly hear their chemistry at play. I love how the bass and guitar serve as the primary anchors, allowing the drums to shape the moods alongside the extra textures and play around the slothful chords and chugs. The vocals are also as commanding as ever, dispensing a mix of flowing bluesy cadences and occasional growls ala a seaworthy Witch Mountain.
While the uniform emphasis on slowness across an hour runtime can make for a lot to absorb, I appreciate how the moods fluctuate enough to keep the songs from feeling too one-note. “Course Correct” and “Summon the Tide” have some steady movement to them as their shuffled feel like waltzing through desolation. Elsewhere, “I Will Wait” has an especially memorable refrain, “Veiled Embrace” borders on atmospheric ballad territory with its subdued riff set, and “What Lies Beneath” has an especially nasty grinding chug.
Overall, Vessel offers a capitulating look into dark aquatic depths of doom. There are plenty of bands exploring different facets of this realm, but their particular genre blend gives them a distinct voice with methodical yet powerful playing to back it up. It risks coming off too long but its expansive nature doesn’t feel bloated thanks to its purposeful slow burn songwriting. As much as I might have my Second Grave hangups forever, Benthic Realm has truly come into their own here.
