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Ahab - The Call Of The Wretched Sea



8.6 | 424 votes |
Release date: 2006
Style: Funeral doom metal

Owners:

432 have it
46 want it
1 trades it


01. Below The Sun
02. The Pacific
03. Old Thunder
04. Of The Monstrous Pictures Of Whales
05. The Sermon
06. The Hunt
07. Ahab's Oath

The best Extreme Doom Metal album of 2006
Top 20 albums of 2006: 6

Additional info
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Stephan Adolph.
Produced by Stephan Adolph and Ahab.
Cover painting: "Moby Dick" by Kinuko Y. Craft.

Staff review by
KwonVerge
Rating:
9.4
I bet many of you know the story of Moby Dick that traumatized Ahab and eversince Ahab swore to lead this whale to its doom for all the suffering it caused him, yet the only doom that was lurking was his own and his men that followed him in this dreadful journey in the shadows of the sea, to finally find themselves in the depths of the ocean, in oblivion. But how would it seem to you if a funeral doom metal band covered musically and lyrically this story? I believe it would seem obscure to most of you, but not until you listen to Ahab's debut album, "The Call Of The Wretched Sea". All the answers lie in there and all the signs lead to only one conclusion, this German trio knows how to create overwhelming funeral doom that will strike you down to the lowest parts of the sea.

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published 04.10.2006 | Comments (33)

Guest review by
Doc G.
Rating:
9.2
Have you ever sat in your back yard at night staring up at the stars when you suddenly come to the unfortunate realization that your life is completely pitiful and insignificant? What? You haven't? Then I assume you have never heard this album!

Funeral doom... that's that really boring genre with no face-melting solos and the guitars going too slow, right? Wrong! The name of the game here is atmosphere, and never have I heard a band set up such a perfect atmosphere. Being a man who generally appreciates ferocious riffs above anything else, the word "atmospheric" generally doesn't attract me to an album, but after hearing "The Call Of The Wretched Sea" my eyes were opened to a whole new power some music can have. The tranquil, yet ominous, grandiose guitar leads, interspersed with the occasional heavy chugging "heave-ho!" type rhythm based sections would have made a great instrumental album on its own, but it doesn't end there. Laced in between the fantastic guitar work is some grotesque (albeit fairly unremarkable) growls, and some Gregorian-chant like clean vocals, that both really do justice to the type of scenes they are trying to portray. Now lets not forget the drumming! Though it usually plays its part effectively, yet fairly predictably - slow and thundering, occasionally you'll hear some great speed put into the drum work, while managing to maintain the tempo at a crushingly depressing crawl.

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published 30.06.2009 | Comments (9)

Found in 66 lists
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Comments

Comments: 24   Visited by: 1202 users
15.05.2010 - 17:32
Rating: 10
Got Mayhem?

Probably one of the most accessible Funeral Doom albums out there that somehow manages to lose none of it's crushing power. Very highly recommended, especially if you're not already familiar with the genre. Perfect mix between melody and extremity.
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15.05.2010 - 18:16
Rating: 10
Doc G.
Full Grown Hoser
Written by Got Mayhem? on 15.05.2010 at 17:32

Probably one of the most accessible Funeral Doom albums out there that somehow manages to lose none of it's crushing power. Very highly recommended, especially if you're not already familiar with the genre. Perfect mix between melody and extremity.

Agreed. Doom is definitely not my top genre pick, but...well, I think my review for it says it all.
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"I got a lot of really good ideas, problem is, most of them suck."
- George Carlin
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26.10.2010 - 21:11
Rating: 10
Daniell
_爱情_
Surprisingly, I think that doom in general is a very demanding genre. You have very little means to keep listeners' attention. You can't flood them with solos, millions of riffs etc. It takes immense talent to create something truly riveting and engaging. Ahab excelts at that on both albums.
Easily among of 10 best doom bands that have ever graced the face of the earth.
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10.12.2010 - 05:34
Rating: 10
advent

Written by Daniell on 26.10.2010 at 21:11

Surprisingly, I think that doom in general is a very demanding genre. You have very little means to keep listeners' attention. You can't flood them with solos, millions of riffs etc. It takes immense talent to create something truly riveting and engaging. Ahab excelts at that on both albums.
Easily among of 10 best doom bands that have ever graced the face of the earth.

Just totally agree with you.
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20.06.2012 - 01:13
Rating: 8
Boxcar Willy
yr a kook
Fantastically crushing album.
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14:22 - Marcel Hubregtse
I do your mum

DESTROY DRUM TRIGGERS
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15.10.2012 - 15:05
Rating: 9
InnerSelf
proofread free
Awesome cover of The Hunt and a really cool video
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He who is not bold enough
to be stared at from across the abyss
is not bold enough
to stare into it himself.
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21.04.2013 - 01:58
Rating: 9
Góral
Combo Breaker
"The Hunt" - this song haunts me continuously for several days. I hear it everywhere - in the shop, in the cinema, while a lecture, in a toilet.. Am I going to crazy or is this music simply outstanding? Or maybe a both..
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11.09.2013 - 12:06
Lit.
Account deleted
Beautifully crushing. That riff from Below The Sun just haunts me.
And also reminds me of this for some reason. I suppose it's fitting, considering it's also the music to an underwater cave called the Shoal Cave.

Drown.
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01.02.2014 - 18:49
Rating: 9
NocturnalStalker
Metal Addict
I think it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call this album one of the jewels of funeral doom metal. At least, it is exactly that in my eyes. The atmosphere of doom permeates me with every passing second on this long musical journey.
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"And we are not who we think we are
We are who we're afraid to be"
- Lux Occulta "The Opening of Eleventh Sephirah"
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30.08.2015 - 20:10
Rating: 9
LeKiwi
High Fist Prog
Written by Guest on 11.09.2013 at 12:06

Beautifully crushing. That riff from Below The Sun just haunts me.
And also reminds me of this for some reason. I suppose it's fitting, considering it's also the music to an underwater cave called the Shoal Cave.

Drown.

Wow, in hindsight I should had the volume more often when I played Pokémon That melody is amazing.

As for the album, crushing is the perfect descriptor to use. Also, I find this album really easy to work to for some reason. It's a shame that the follow-up didn't match the dense atmosphere created here.
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31.08.2015 - 16:42
Lit.
Account deleted
Written by LeKiwi on 30.08.2015 at 20:10

Wow, in hindsight I should had the volume more often when I played Pokémon That melody is amazing.

Indeed it is. It's a naturally haunting theme but it also has a mournful tone to it. I absolutely love the music in Pokemon, especially from Generation 4.

I've never tried the second album, actually. Or The Giant. But now that the new one's out, I'm definitely gonna try that at one point.
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31.08.2015 - 16:57
Rating: 9
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Written by Guest on 31.08.2015 at 16:42

Written by LeKiwi on 30.08.2015 at 20:10

Wow, in hindsight I should had the volume more often when I played Pokémon That melody is amazing.

Indeed it is. It's a naturally haunting theme but it also has a mournful tone to it. I absolutely love the music in Pokemon, especially from Generation 4.

I've never tried the second album, actually. Or The Giant. But now that the new one's out, I'm definitely gonna try that at one point.


I've only heard the first two... Even though I own The Giant. I just keep forgetting to listen to it hahahah. I woul disagree with Kiwi regarding their sophomore album though. It's great. It plays a different atmosphere, far more melancolic and less intimidating which is specially notorious due to the clean vocals used. I thought the production was good as well. Not crushing though, but then again... That was not the point to begin with. Redemption Lost is one of my favorite Ahab songs.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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31.08.2015 - 16:58
Rating: 9
LeKiwi
High Fist Prog
Written by Guest on 31.08.2015 at 16:42

Indeed it is. It's a naturally haunting theme but it also has a mournful tone to it. I absolutely love the music in Pokemon, especially from Generation 4.

I've never tried the second album, actually. Or The Giant. But now that the new one's out, I'm definitely gonna try that at one point.

Perhaps one day I'll go back and replay all those games again

Hope you enjoy the albums, but if you really liked this one and the most recent one I don't think you will
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31.08.2015 - 17:09
Rating: 9
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Written by LeKiwi on 31.08.2015 at 16:58

Hope you enjoy the albums, but if you really liked this one and the most recent one I don't think you will

Depends on who you ask because I really like the second and I know BitterCold (specially after reading his reviews), Marcel and Daniel enjoy them as well.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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31.08.2015 - 18:13
Rating: 9
LeKiwi
High Fist Prog
Written by X-Ray Rod on 31.08.2015 at 17:09

Depends on who you ask...

True that! I just thought that TDoO could have greatly benefited from a more layers and denser production, as with this album. It just felt a bit...empty at times
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31.08.2015 - 18:29
Zap
Guest
I agree with LeKiwi, this and the newest one are far superior to the albums in between.

And this one has the prettiest cover art.
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24.12.2016 - 11:55
Zap
Guest
Can't wait to see them play this live at Roadburn. I'd be happy just to see Ahab live, but the fact that they're playing this whole album makes me so much more excited.
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07.11.2019 - 20:42
Rating: 9
Cynic Metalhead
Paisa Vich Nasha
Whenever I mean wherever I plug in this, I immediately jumped to "The Hunt" and it stuck in your head for fucking weeks.

And that Intro where first waves of slam kicks in make you itch to be run over by Josephy Cyril Bamford.
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17.05.2022 - 07:18
Rating: 10
F3ynman2000
Nocturnal Bro
This is some awesome doom
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06.12.2022 - 01:07
Rating: 10
F3ynman2000
Nocturnal Bro
Huh. Usually funeral doom is way too slow for me. But, revisiting this album, this is really damn good. It keeps growing on me with every new listen.

Can anyone recommend other funeral doom albums that are eerie and crushing like this?
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06.12.2022 - 09:24
Zap
Guest
Written by F3ynman2000 on 06.12.2022 at 01:07

Can anyone recommend other funeral doom albums that are eerie and crushing like this?

Give Tyranny a shot. They're one of the most similar sounding bands I can think of.
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06.12.2022 - 18:55
A Real Mönkey

Written by F3ynman2000 on 06.12.2022 at 01:07

Can anyone recommend other funeral doom albums that are eerie and crushing like this?

Oceanus by Fungoid Stream is a personally favorite of mine in this style. Not as heavy but similarly eerie and really weird. BitterCOld described it best on his list: "If Ahab drags you down, this is the bottom of the sea."
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"Change the world. My final message. Goodbye."

~Last words of Harambe, seconds before he was shot, according to child he shielded from gunfire
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06.12.2022 - 20:20
Rating: 9
BitterCOld
The Ancient One
(Liked not for name checking me, but name checking Fungoid Stream)

Written by A Real Mönkey on 06.12.2022 at 18:55

Written by F3ynman2000 on 06.12.2022 at 01:07

Can anyone recommend other funeral doom albums that are eerie and crushing like this?

Oceanus by Fungoid Stream is a personally favorite of mine in this style. Not as heavy but similarly eerie and really weird. BitterCOld described it best on his list: "If Ahab drags you down, this is the bottom of the sea."
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get the fuck off my lawn.

Beer Bug Virus Spotify Playlist crafted by Nikarg and I. Feel free to tune in and add some pertinent metal tunes!
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08.12.2022 - 18:39
Rating: 9
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Written by F3ynman2000 on 06.12.2022 at 01:07
Can anyone recommend other funeral doom albums that are eerie and crushing like this?

Catacombs: Sound-wise this is pretty close to Ahab's debut but more hypnotic with its leads. Probably the ultimate Lovecraft Funeral Doom album if you ask me.

I have other recs in mind that go under then tag "eerie and crushing" but their style of funeral doom is different. I can give them to you anyway if you are interested.
But first check out the ones the others have recommended (I love both Tyranny and Fungoid Stream) as well as Catacombs.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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