Finnish death/doom metal trio Hooded Menace premiere new full-length album »Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration«; out today via Season Of Mist!
Finnish death/doom metal band Hooded Menace premiere their new full-length album, »Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration«, which was just released this Friday, October 3rd, 2025 via Season Of Mist.
Tracklist:
01. Twilight Passages
02. Pale Masquerade
03. Portrait Without A Face
04. Daughters Of Lingering Pain
05. Lugubrious Dance
06. Save A Prayer (Duran Duran cover)
07. Into Haunted Oblivion
Courtesy of Season Of Mist:
For more than two decades, Hooded Menace have stood as the pillar between two realms of underground metal. The Finnish band are still transfixed by classic horror on their monumental new album. But »Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration« only goes to show that these stewards of death-doom remain far from stuck in their ways.
“…if »Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration« doesn’t match Tritonus [Bell], it reiterates the trio’s true north,” writes Decibel in an 8/10 review. “Four seven-minute tracks comprise the heart and guts of the album, keening boom/gloom workouts of hammer-and-anvil classicism.”
“Lasse Pyykkö has once again infused the new album with a blend of their signature crushing heaviness and a daring sense of innovation,” hails New Noise.
»Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration« comes out this Friday, October 3, but you can hear all seven earthshaking tracks today by listening to the full album stream on the Season Of Mist YouTube channel. Order & stream HERE.
Photo by Pasi Nevalaita
The undead spirit that’s guided Hooded Menace since its 2007 conception still stands watch over »Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration«. Cover artist Wes Benscoter recreates the Blind Dead in all their glowingly ghoulish glory. »Pale Masquerade« summons film director Amando de Ossorio’s flesh-eating muse with a fresh heap of founding member Lasse Pyykkö’s bone-crunching chugs. But while the lasting influence of Candlemass and Paradise Lost hasn’t vanished without a ghostly trace, the band continue to break the mold that they set for death-doom. Neon keys beam through opener »Twilight Passages« as if firing up a time machine.
»Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration« hammers home the classic ‘80s heavy metal influence that Hooded Menace rung in on their last long-player »The Tritonus Bell«. As if from a trance, drums snap into a gallop amidst blistering leads dripped with neon. »Lugubrious Dance« twists between the hallucinogenic spires of Cathedral in conspiracy with King Diamond before cranking into a chorus that’s classic Hooded Menace. Even traditional death-doomers will scream with delight upon hearing the band cover Duran Duran’s »Save a Prayer« with their blood-soaked signature.
MicroPitching and other effects aren’t the only tricks pulled out from under Hooded Menace’s cloak on »Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration«. What should appear from beneath Pekka Koskelo’s swirling double bass on lead single »Portrait Without A Face« but the deeply haunting moan of a cello. Like an echo from beyond the grave, the cry of strings reappears during the album’s grand finale. Former live bassist Antti Poutanen sorrowfully saws as the band marches, gallops then sinks back »Into Haunted Oblivion”.
“Resonate in utter darkness,” Harri Kuokkanen beckons with growls that reek of the crypt.
With »Lachrymose Monuments Of Obscuration«, Hooded Menace cast death-doom in a ghoulish new light.
Credits:
Recorded by Heikki Marttila at Guru Studio, Joensuu, Finland.
Mixed by Heikki Marttila.
Mastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano at Orgone Studios, Portugal.
Cover art by Wes Benscoter
Hooded Menace is:
Lasse Pyykkö – Guitar, Bass, Keyboards
Harri Kuokkanen – Vocals
Pekka Koskelo – Drums
Guest musicians:
Antti Poutanen – Cello
John McNulty – Spoken Word
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well
