EP Review: Tumanduumband – Drowning In Fathomless Despair

A two piece satanic doom band hailing from Stourbridge, Tumanduumband have been carving out a unique niche with their brutally heavy, crushing sound. The current lockdown has found this devilish duo getting creative and have recorded this two-song monster solely using mobile phones.

Normally Tumanduumband deliver skull pummelling riffs with just bass guitar and drums to produce a sound that’s akin to an anchor tied to a drowning man. So when I learned this release would feature just guitar and vocals I approached it with trepidation (is there any other way to approach a satanic doom record?). I needn’t have worried because Drowning In Fathomless Despair is still heavy as hell, it just takes a different route. Gone is the pounding warmth to be replaced by a glacial brittleness which adds a definite black metal feel.

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Scott Cooper and Luke Orchard are Tumanduumband and they also play in grindcore legends Vicious Bastard and they’ve brought some of that middle finger salute to this project. It’s more attitude wise and they bring an ‘anything goes’ vibe to this release. Opening (and title) track finds Luke swapping drum stool for vocals and he spits forth words that seem to emanate from the very depths of hades. Scott plays the six string like he attacks the bass and pulls out sounds that Tony Iommi would kill for.

Opening with an Aleister Crowley quote “Pierce His Lungs With The Sting Of Scorpions” is genuinely unsettling. The soundtrack to a LaVeyan satanic ritual it conjures all sorts of evil as Baphomet finally makes an appearance over the doomy, dirge laden guitar. Scott adds some ghostly backing vocals which lurk menacingly in the shadows and lends a depth to a recording which could sound one dimensional (considering the medium used).

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It’s great to see Tumduumband trying something new and, in a case of fortune favouring the brave, Drowning In Fathomless Despair really works. Recommended for anyone who likes the edgier end of heavy music…just make sure you keep the lights on!

Drowning In The Depths Of Fathomless Despair is self released and available via bandcamp now

Check out all the bands we review in 2021 on our Spotify and YouTube playlists!

Tumanduumband: facebook | instagram | bandcamp | spotify | youtube

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