Hooded Menace - Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration - review
Hooded Menace - Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration - review
Tracklist
01. Twilight Passages02. Pale Masquerade
03. Portrait Without A Face
04. Daughters Of Lingering Pain
05. Lugubrious Dance
06. Save A Prayer [Duran Duran cover]
07. Into Haunted Oblivion
A review by
AndyMetalFreak October 14, 2025
Hooded Menace have made quite an impact on the Finnish death metal scene since their formation back in 2007. As well as undergoing several line-up changes, they've also developed a style that's not been entirely straightforward. Their themes are mostly inspired by 70s cult horror, which isn't all that unoriginal to Finnish OSDM, but musically they've never quite fit the bill for a band that should typically represent the scene; instead. they've chosen to explore various avenues instead of sticking to a basic OSDM formula. For instance, their last few releases have ventured more into slow, crushing death doom territory, perhaps closer to representing the UK's 90s death doom scene.
The band's latest and seventh full-length effort, Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration, takes an entirely new and exciting direction. Here, Hooded Menace have taken a step back from their death doom-oriented approach, and incorporated more melodeath, gothic, and traditional heavy metal influences. This has resulted in a surprisingly lighter, catchier, and more upbeat offering, one that's arguably their most easily digestible and satisfyingly melodic to date. Does that mean this approach is a better route to take, though? Well, that all depends on what your personal preference is. Do you prefer a slower-tempo death doom route, with crushing low-toned chugs and slogs, or is your preference a more energetic approach, with hooky rhythms and more melodic riffs? Maybe you're like me and have an equal taste for both styles, and perhaps couldn't care less which direction they choose as long as their songwriting, performance and overall quality are up to scratch, and for me this record is certainly brimming with quality from start to finish.
The lyrics are again mostly inspired by horror tales; "Pale Masquerade" is for instance influenced by film director Amando de Ossorio. However, this is one of the few features that Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration has in common with previous albums, as, aside from Harri Kuokkanen's trademark deep, gnarly, monstrous gutterals, and the occasional mid-tempo death doom section, this is a whole new direction musically. Discounting the short atmospheric intro, each song is relatively lengthy and structurally diverse. There's no shortage of memorable hooks throughout each track, and some riff and key melodies are delightful earworms that'll be ringing in your head for quite some time. "Portrait Without A Face" and the Duran Duran cover "Save A Prayer" are particular highlights in what this end of the metal spectrum has offered in 2025 in terms of catchiness and memorable headbanging material.
Hooded Menace have the confidence to mix things up somewhat, and Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration has proven this even more so, as they've incorporated a wide variety of influences not yet delved into in their discography. You'll hear a striking combination of 80s traditional doom and 90s dark gothic, where a hint of Candlemass meeting Paradise Lost is evident on more than one occasion, while modern melodeath influences and haunting atmospheric passages are frequently incorporated as well.
The trio's all-round performance is unsurprisingly top-notch; Lasse Pyykkö delivers yet another great multi-instrumental performance, from exceptional and varied guitar work, both in the form of riffs and leads, to putting his bass and haunting, mesmerizing keys to full use. Pekka Koskelo then pummels away in stylish fashion accompanying the groovy, pulsating bass lines. Several guest musicians also make memorable contributions, including the melancholic cello playing of Antti Poutanen and the eerie, theatrical spoken word of John McNulty. The production is weighty in sound and of a high standard, and is key for allowing each instrument to shine to equal extents; the synths and keys are also a prominent feature throughout, and are just as noticeably clear in the mix as the guitars.
Overall, Hooded Menace have really pulled one out of the bag here, and coming from a band of this caliber that is truly saying something. The decision to step away from their death doom roots and incorporate such diverse influences does sound risky at first, but they've worked wonders here, and created something that I feel is not only an original and fresh approach, but in time could prove to be groundbreaking for them, as well as for bands in general who may need that extra confidence boost to push their musical boundaries that bit further.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 8 |
| Songwriting: | 8 |
| Originality: | 8 |
| Production: | 8 |
Written on 14.10.2025 by
Written on 14.10.2025 by
An honest review that you don't necessarily have to agree with. Comments
Comments:
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Posts: 217  |
Posts: 217
I want to like this but even the best tracks you mentioned are somewhat boring in my opinion. It doesn’t help that the singer does not have the diversity of Nick Holmes. Also the Duran Duran cover sounds so much like 90s Paradise Lost that made me cringe . But probably I am in the minority here
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 Posts: 6213 |
Posts: 6213
The Duran Duran cover sounds like Paradise Lost. Which is kind of funny and makes one think about what inspired Paradise Lost... After all, "As I Die" sounds like a ripoff of Bronski Beat's "Smalltown Boy". Which the band must've known, as they covered the BB song too.
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Posts: 66  |
Posts: 66
This is easily my favorite album this year. I stumbled upon them on youtube while working, and the discovery was fantastic.
---- Be more like Funriz
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Posts: 1828  |
Posts: 1828
This album kinda reminds me of a death doom version of Lamp Of Murmuur’s first two albums.
---- Need a break from headbanging? Restore your street cred by visiting my hip-hop list! Tha Swagnum Opus: A Selection Of Hip-Hop For The Curious Metalhead
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| Posts: 6683 |
Posts: 6683 Written by A Real Mönkey on 16.10.2025 at 04:05 That's a band I never even thought about before you mentioned them tbh, but I do hear some similarities between them both now.
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