Band:	Tyranny
Album:	Aeons In Tectonic Interment
Style:	Funeral doom metal
Release date:	September 2015

01. Sunless Deluge
02. A Voice Given Unto Ruin
03. Preparation Of A Vessel
04. The Stygian Enclave
05. Bells Of The Black Basilica

If you're bent on getting into Finnish metal these days, it's impossible to fully do so without thoroughly exploring the depths of the country's burgeoning doom scene, and it's just that simple. And no, I don't mean Swallow The Sun-type doom, but that dark, dense, and abysmal brand that seems to be committed to nothing other than exploring the innermost realms of the human subconscious. Doom of the sort purveyed by Tyranny.

It's been ten years since we've heard any p̶e̶e̶p̶ howl from the massive force of funeral doom that is Tyranny, yet right from the beginnings of their sophomore effort, Matti Mäkelä and Lauri Lindqvist make it quite clear that virtually none of the band's potency has been lost in that time. Among the doom bands Matti has been involved with, Tyranny occupies an interesting position, being overall darker than Profetus, yet not quite as vicious as the now-defunct Wormphlegm. This unique sense of a middle ground runs all throughout Aeons In Tectonic Interment, with the album coming to excellently fuse the sound of crushing, uncompromising funeral doom with a hypnotic, almost dark ambient landscape that forms its underbelly. "Sunless Deluge" is perhaps the best example, starting as it does with oppressively menacing growls and riffs before taking a turn into some more otherworldly choir sounds and whooshing, organ-like effects.

Perhaps most notable, though, is the overall improvement in production that Tyranny are working with here. The band's Tides Of Awakening debut, while being quite good, also sounded rather murky and buried at points. On this album however, everything seems to be much cleaner and in the forefront, and it's not as difficult for one to make out all the various levels of the band's composition. In many ways this really makes this album a more pleasing listen, because since the music of Tyranny is indeed quite layered, being able to take it in a fuller grasp is ultimately much more rewarding.

After a considerable period of absence, one of the best bands that Finnish doom metal has to offer is back, and with a vengeance. Though it may sometimes appear to lag and get monotonous, it's really the blend of sheer heaviness with great atmosphere that helps to gives Aeons In Tectonic Interment its distinction, preventing it from being overly stale or redundant. Haunting, imposing, entrancing, and also darkly beautiful, this is an album that has quite simply revitalized Tyranny, while also making things look extremely promising for whatever future endeavors they may undertake.

Check out "Sunless Deluge" over here.