Godthrymm - Projections - review
Godthrymm - Projections - review
Tracklist
01. Trenches Deep02. Truth In My Own
03. The Sun Never Fell
04. Endure My Skin [feat. Aaron Stainthorpe]
05. Jewels
06. Hope Is Eternal
07. Epilogue [bonus]
A review by
AndyMetalFreak June 15, 2026
The region of Yorkshire in northeast England has been renowned over the years for establishing many great metal acts such as Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, A Forest of Stars, and now Godthrymm, an epic doom band formed in 2017 by ex-My Dying Bride members Hamish Hamilton Glencross (vocalist/guitarist) and Shaun Taylor-Steels (drums). In recent years the band has gathered an outstanding reception for bringing the '90s UK gothic doom scene back to life, particularly recalling bands such as My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost, and Anathema. They set the ball rolling following 2 acclaimed EPs with their crushingly heavy and deeply melancholic full-length album Reflections (2020), the first part of a conceptual project known as the Visions Trilogy. This was followed 3 years later by the second part, Distortions (2023), a groundbreaking sophomore effort that first introduced the beautiful keyboard and vocal harmonies of Catherine Glencross. After setting themselves such a high benchmark and establishing a prominent position in the modern doom scene, they return again, this time hoping to complete the trilogy in grand epic fashion through their 3rd album, Projections.
Bringing this epic trilogy to a close, the band have conjured up their most densely layered and structurally complex effort to date. The songwriting intriguingly blends the sorrowful, melancholic soundscapes and slow, crushing tempos of their foundations with progressive song structures through dynamic rhythm patterns and tempo shifts and lighter soundscapes with upbeat tempos. The album also incorporates subtle aggressive melodeath features whilst also drawing epic doom influences from the likes of Atlantean Kodex and Candlemass.
Not only is this their heaviest, most aggressive, and undeniably most diverse effort to date, it's also their most emotionally charged performance yet. This is helped by various guest contributors including Adie Bailey (English Dogs) and Jay Walsh (Xentrix) featured on the opener "Trenches Deep", as well as the highly esteemed former My Dying Bride frontman Aaron Stainthorpe as co-vocalist on "Endure My Skin". This is a song which you'd be forgiven for thinking is a My Dying Bride song itself by the way in which Hamilton's crushing doom guitars mournfully sweep alongside Stainthorpe's devastating trademark vocals.
Aside from the earth-shattering bass, pummeling thunderous drums, slow and bone-crushing doom riffs, sweeping sorrowful leads, and beautifully constructed melancholic keys (which play a pivotal role in bringing the vibrant soundscape to life) the true highlight of the show is simply the vocals. The vocals are diverse and passionately performed throughout, switching between Hamish's deep, emotion-filled epic doom wails and aggressive growls and Catherine's soft, angelic singing. The vocals counteract to fit accordingly into whatever music is present and are as important of an ingredient for bringing the emotive atmosphere together as any other instrument. The calm, progressive-tinged "Jewels" and the mournfully atmospheric closer "Hope Is Eternal" are for instance fronted by Catherine, whereas the heavy lead single "Truth In My Own" and the album's memorable crushing masterpiece, "The Sun Never Fell", are where Hamish comes into his own.
Because of the dense and dynamic multi-layered structure, I do have a few minor qualms about the production, with the mixing not being the most consistent. On one hand, the vocal harmonies flourish in the mix, allowing Catherine's and Hamish's immaculate vocal display to shine in all its epic and ethereal glory, whilst the keys are integrated splendidly, adding a vital atmospheric layer that doesn't override the guitars. On the other hand, the mix does feel disjointed at times, with certain elements seemingly held back or muddied out, but this is only minor and often barely noticeable at all and so doesn't deter listeners from the overall experience.
Hamish described the album as a way of presenting their passion, sorrow, love, and fury that's influenced by the personal tragedy and life challenges within the band whilst pushing themselves further into musical complexity. I'd say they've channeled each of these emotions through the music they've created here rather well. He also said it reflects on the very essence that makes us who we are, and he hopes you'll find some kindred reflection in yourselves on this journey. Upon listening to the album myself I've noticed each note and vocal line is designed to pull on your heart strings and draw you in emotionally deeper, and so I can definitely reflect on these words. These are seasoned veterans in the genre each with the experience and a reputation that was undeniable coming into this album, but I think they have somehow managed to pull something truly special out of the bag here. Projections not only exceeds the quality of everything the band has released so far, it could prove to be one of the best albums in doom in recent years performance-wise and especially from an emotional point of view.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 10 |
| Songwriting: | 8 |
| Originality: | 7 |
| Production: | 8 |
Written on 15.06.2026 by
Written on 15.06.2026 by
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