Mysterium I

Description

The Dutch band Celestial Season has had a rather peculiar trajectory. Originally an early death/doom metal band, releasing their debut album in 1992, the band developed a romantic, violin-led sound that partially mirrored the classic Peaceville “Hammy” sound. After releasing two gothic/death/doom metal albums in the early to mid-1990s, Celestial Season abruptly shifted to a more stoner-oriented sound, abandoning their original doom metal sound for half a decade before disbanding in 2001. The year 2011 marked Celestial Season’s surprise return, but the last eleven years have yielded only one album: “The Secret Teachings.” “Mysterium I” is a continuation of that classic 1990s gloomy doom sound. With a heavier approach, especially in its chorus, the lead single and album opener, “Black Water Mirrors,” balances death/doom’s immensity with a touch of tenderness and an emotional core.