### Worship: Terranean wake

#### 19/12/12 || gk

Fucken Worship. In the decidedly kvlt world of funeral doom, Worship are just about the kvltest. The band formed in 2000 and spent most of the decade releasing hard to find splits and singles on cassette and vinyl. When drummer and vocalist Fucked Up Mad Max (yeah, that’s what his mother named him) killed himself in 2005 it seemed like the band was destined to be a footnote in the genre. Then in 2007, pretty much out of nowhere, the band released their crushing debut album “Dooom”.

Onward to 2012 and Worship are back with their second album, “Terranean Wake”. What we have here is 4 songs spread out over some of the most emotionally exhausting funeral doom released this year. There are a few changes this time around. This is the first recording the band has done that has no input at all from the dearly departed Max who had recorded vocals for a few songs on 2007’s “Dooom”. The other difference is the sound which is a lot cleaner in comparison but also more powerful and finally lead guitarist and band leader The Doommonger is now also the band’s full time vocalist and does a great job with his powerful growl.

There’s something about Worship that sets them apart from the rest of the funeral doom genre. The sheer weight they bring to their song writing is emotionally and physically draining and listening to “Terranean wake” will tire you out. Opening song “Tide of terminus” is a staggering 14 minute behemoth and sets the tone for the rest of the album as The Doommonger’s lead guitar sits over some absolutely crushing riffs that threaten to drown the listener in its melancholic atmosphere. However, it’s in the long middle section of the song with a clean guitar cutting across the silence and echoing beneath the spoken words and chants that the song really takes shape and when the band returns to that crushing main riff it has a powerful and almost debilitating effect. “The second coming apart” is a bit busier in comparison to the band’s own sound and slowly unveils subtleties on repeat listens. By the time the song moves to its last few minutes, the band has built a soundscape of truly wretched despair and uncompromising claustrophobia. “Fear is my temple” is the shortest song here at just over 10 minutes and also has the only real “catchy” riff on this album and is probably the most accessible song that Worship has ever done but then the band seems to make up for this rare moment of comparatively easy listening with album closer “End of an aeviturne” which just reeks of despair and hopelessness with a particularly inspired vocal performance from The Doommonger.

Worship has always played to a small and dedicated fan base. I really don’t see “Terranean wake” changing that. This is the sound of a band truly at the top of its game and has an inspired performance from main man The Doommonger on both lead guitar and vocals. “Terranean wake” is one of the better funeral doom releases of 2012 and if you have any interest in doom at all then you owe it to yourself to check this band out.

- Information
- Released: 2012
- Label: Weird Truth Productions
- Website: www.worship.com
- Band
- The Doomonger: lead guitars, vocals
- Satachrist: guitars
- Doomnike: bass
- Gravedrummer: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Tide of Terminus
- 02. The Second Coming Apart
- 03. Fear is my Temple
- 04. End of an Aeviturne