Hooded Menace - Fulfill the Curse (2008)

   The New Wave of Old School Death metal also opened a gate for related styles, so it could be found responsible for the Renaissance of death/doom metal. It was proven that the heavier, non-romantic and therefore less popular aspect of the subgenre can also offer diversity.
   If the characteristic deep growls of Hooded Menace might sound familiar, it's not a coincedence. It's the band of Lasse Pyykkö, whose voice was widely introduced previously in Acid Witch. Hooded Menace counts as a related band by it's completely horror addicted concept, but in style preferred to stay at the early roots of death/doom. Therefore their music might be harder to go into, but the old school references could help to guide the listener amongst the slow, heavy riffings (for instance "The Love Song of Gotho" is strongly reminding to "Chlidren of the Grave" by Black Sabbath). The album sounds a bit raw, like if it was still in experimenting/pathfinding form in some way. Similar to Finnish death metal in general, they also involved frequently returning catchy leading melodies, and when they turn to middle speed, their music has a nearly groovy feeling. However, even though their described toolbar sounds like an absolute win, all of these didn't removed their music from rawness, the combination of the noisy heaviness and the melodies stayed as a case at issue. "Fulfill the Curse" can be an enjoyable album for the fans of the heaviest musical aspect of horror.