Doomed Nation

Sounds For The Lost Generation

US blackened doom metal outfit Desiccation premieres new single and music video »Legatum Mortuorum«

US blackened doom metal trio Desiccation premieres new single and music video »Legatum Mortuorum«.

»Legatum Mortuorum« is the second single and title track taken from Desiccation’s sophomore full-length album, set to release on May 15th, 2026 via Carbonized Records.

Tracklist:
01. All Light Is Gone
02. Cursed In Cold Silence
03. Legatum Mortuorum
04. The Alchemy Of Grief
05. Ashes Unto The Abyss
06. Lamentations Beyond The Veil

Courtesy of Earsplit PR:

“…a pallet of blackened doom with some other elements of death and post-metal set to foist itself on anyone unready to absorb its rousing malaise.” – Everything Is Noise

Blackened doom metal outfit Desiccation is pleased to unveil their gorgeous video for »Legatum Mortuorum«. Now playing at Everything Is Noise, the track comes by way of the band’s forthcoming new full-length of the same name, set for release on May 15th through Carbonized Records.

»Legatum Mortuorum« blends wholly non-dual elements: blasting drums and tremolo-picked guitars give way to spacious, slow riffs, and sprawling synths. Lyrically, themes of loss and grief are intertwined with moments of transcendence and connection. Aggression and beauty, hope and hopelessness are woven together to translate inner experience into the outer world. Desiccation builds upon their 2022 debut, »Cold Dead Earth«, adding deeper layers of synth over more aggressive black/death riffing. Familiar elements of emotive melody and sludgy death-doom are strengthened by a solid extreme metal backbone. All three band members contribute vocals that complement the varied, long-form songwriting.


Photo by James Bratt

Writes Everything Is Noise in part, “All the expected elements are here – guitar, bass, vocals (times two!), drums, and synthesizers – just divvied up among the trio to give their music a massive sound. The drive and crashing of black metal is very apparent, taking the furthest step forward in this track. Starlit synths give it an ethereal feel that harkens back to the heyday (and most controversial era) of the genre in the early ’90s. Given a cleaner production ensures it a less abrasive and obscure life though, and the weight of doom metal that »Legatum Mortuorum« has keeps it grounded even as it evokes the supernatural…”

Watch Desiccation’s »Legatum Mortuorum« video HERE.

Stream Desiccation’s previously released single »The Alchemy Of Grief« HERE.

»Legatum Mortuorum« was composed and arranged by James Bratt in Nevada City, tracked, mixed, and mastered by Patrick Hills at his own EarthTone Studios, Sacramento and features cover art by MFAXII, inner artwork by Blial Cabal and audio sigil by View From the Coffin.

The record also features specials guests Alex Miletich (Vile Rites, Mortuous) who plays lead guitar on the title track and Karl Cordtz (Feral Season, Chrch) who provides additional vocals on »The Alchemy Of Grief«, »Ashes Unto The Abyss«, and »Lamentations Beyond The Veil«, as well as additional guitar on »Lamentations Beyond The Veil«.

The record will be released on CD, LP, cassette, and digital formats.

Find North American preorders HERE, European preorders HERE, all other international orders HERE and digital orders HERE.

Hailing from Nevada City and Sacramento, California, Desiccation was formed in 2022 by husband and wife team of James (guitars, vocals, synths) and Soell Bratt (vocals), along with Patrick Hills (drums, bass, synths, background vocals). The band combines a unique mix of doom, death, black, and post-metal to portray a bleak world in which shards of hope glimmer amid the wasted aftermath of collapsing nations and burning ecosystems.

Inspired by the absorbing sounds of bands like Emperor, Evoken, and Blut Aus Nord, and growing up in the forests of Northern California, both James and Soell spent much of their lives in the solitude of a small mountain town. Together the collective focuses on doom-driven weight and patience emphasizing space and repetition; atmospheric extremity that is rooted in black and death metal. Ritual, grief, and transcendence expressed through layered sonic atmospheres…

Desiccation is:
James Bratt – Guitars, Vocals, Synths
Soell Bratt – Vocals
Patrick Hills – Drums, Bass, Synths, Background Vocals

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well