Release Date May 29th, 2026
Format CD/Vinyl/Cassette/Digital
Genre Progressive Death/Sludge Metal
Origin Ireland
Tooms formed in Limerick after bassist Anto Donnellan, drummer Kieran Grace and guitarist/vocalist Alex Hölzinger spent four years working together as Gaia. The Tooms name arrived in 2017 with the single "Simon Ferocious", followed by the debut album "The Orb Offers Massive Signals" in 2020 through Cursed Monk Records. That release established a mix of sludge, death metal and progressive writing built around low tunings, rough textures and unpredictable movement. Six years later, the same trio returns with "Karst", their second full length album. Road To Masochist handles the CD edition, Cursed Monk Records the vinyl, Fiadh Productions the cassette, alongside a digital release.
"Karst" is a broader and more ambitious album than its predecessor, using grinding riffs, sudden tempo changes and long compositions to create a severe, claustrophobic atmosphere. The guitar has a coarse edge, the bass adds depth beneath the riffs, and the drums give the shifting sections a firm shape. Vocals move between guttural roars and strained shouts, adding human damage to music already loaded with tension. The main weakness is control. Several passages stay longer than needed, and a few transitions interrupt the momentum instead of building it. The album is at its best when Tooms locks into a riff and lets the rhythm develop before changing course. Matt Bayles' mix leaves every part audible while retaining the raw surface, and Chris Fielding's mastering gives the album enough volume and depth without flattening the dynamics. "Karst" has strong ideas, capable playing and a bleak character, though stricter editing would have made the best sections hit with greater impact. It is a good second album, uneven in places, with enough substance to justify repeated plays.
|7.5
Add comment
Comments