Band:	Thronehammer
Album:	Kingslayer
Style:	Doom metal
Release date:	November 2023

01. Reign Of Steel
02. Kingslayer
03. Sacrosanct Grounds
04. Echoes Of Forgotten Battles
05. Shieldbreaker
06. Mortal Spheres
07. Triumphant Emperor
08. Halcyon Days Of Yore
09. Ascension

Thronehammer is a doom metal band with members based in Germany and England. Despite having been formed by guitarist Stuart West in 2012, the band was really set in motion when multi-instrumentalist Tim Schmidt joined, and the charismatic Kat Shevil Gillham took on vocal duties. The band has been prolific lately, having released three albums in the last four years, and Kingslayer is their best work yet.

The music of Thronehammer is traditional epic doom metal, with sludgy and tempestuous riffs, devastating melodies, shattering death doom passages, battle drums that go much further than just playing in the pocket, and impressively versatile vocals. Kingslayer is the band’s most varied and diverse album to date, with songs that are long, but also adventurous, and with many twists and turns, both in the vocal and musical department. There is not one song defining the album’s character, because each one has its own distinct personality, which makes the 74-minute runtime just fly by. Imagine a blend of Candlemass, Viking-era Bathory, Bolt Thrower, British death doom of the ‘90s, and the slower, more frightening moments of Slayer.

From the opener, "Reign Of Steel”, Thronehammer establish their dominance with a chest-pumping riff and a sing-along chorus. The title track, which follows, starts with the scream “The King…. Slayeeeeer!” and continues with a riff taken from Slayer’s book of evil wonders (you know, the “Dead Skin Mask”, blood-curdling kind) before embracing the stomp of Candlemass. “Sacrosanct Grounds” is a slow, monolithic sonic assault that rumbles with power. “Echoes Of Forgotten Battles” is Bolt Thrower and Paradise Lost seamlessly woven together, and the growl ‘Rise ghosts of war!’ just oozes metallic might. “Shieldbreaker” is a triumphant, battering monster, splitting skies made of riff-clouds drawn by Quorthon. “Mortal Spheres” is a blackened masterclass in composition, fuelled with gothic melody, while “Triumphant Emperor” pays homage to early Celtic Frost in their slower, chuggy ‘ugh’ moments. “Halcyon Days Of Yore” has an unforgettable lead melody that pairs beautifully with the chorus, and it is another slab of conquering epic doom. Finally, the closing track, “Ascension”, is a towering behemoth of mythical proportions that wraps up the album in the most compelling way possible, and features one of the best outros of the year, brimming with anthemic melancholy.

The lyrical themes are imagination-driven, derived from mythology and ancient tales of wars, medieval kingdoms, castles and forts, savage battles between fearless warriors taking place in rough landscapes and misty mountains, occult magic and ceremonies, and generally stuff to clench your fist and raise your arm in the air to, just like the music commands.

The superb black and white cover art by Nils Broß is fittingly grim and dark, depicting the Kingslayer holding a battleaxe in one hand and the blood-dripping head of the king in the other. The OSDM-esque logo of the band is sickeningly good, too.

If you like your doom heavy and bludgeoning, but also epic and melodic, with infectious hooks and classic heavy metal leanings, then Thronehammer should be your new favourite band and Kingslayer your new favourite album. This is a landmark release for Thronehammer and my personal pick for doom metal album of the year.

“His sword held high
Glimmering steel cracks the sky
Now it’s time to die”