Saturnus - The Storm Within (2023)

Finally! After ten years of waiting, Saturnus returns with another full-length release titled “The Storm Within”. Being a fan of the band has meant waiting, and waiting, and waiting some more between releases, but now that the time has come: the band delivers with this one. Oozing soul crushing melancholy, this release features nearly 60 minutes of crushing Doom, just what we expected from this band.

Opening with the album title track, the release slowly picks up as Thomas and his deep growls come front and center. With two new guitarists: Indee Rehal-Sagoo (lead) and Julio Fernandez (rhythm), the band’s sound is slightly different, with more ‘upbeat’ songs that border more in the melodic Death Metal realm, like “Breathe New Life”. However, the punishing and slow magic of their previous releases is also present in demoralizing pieces like “Chasing Ghosts” and “The Calling”.

Constantly delivering quality music, the band’s core remains as songs like “Closing the Circle” deliver hard-hitting weeping guitars, hypnotic bass guitar lines, and subtle but yet highly atmospheric keyboards. Each track has tons of details and with every additional spin they get more and more devastating (in a good way). Featuring Paul Kuhr (November’s Doom) on guest vocals, “Even Tide” is a nice tempo changing song that while at first we didn’t quite like, it actually grows on you thanks to its lush arrangements.

Overall, “The Storm Within” is a release that is well worth the wait. Saturnus continues to unleash unparalleled levels of doom and melancholy, while creating some of the bleakest and most powerful songs in the genre. If you liked their previous release, this one will completely satisfy you. If you have never heard of the band before, get your head out of your ass, and get on with the band’s misery-inducing program.

Label: Prophecy Productions

Release: June 16th, 2023

Genre: Melodic Death/Doom Metal

Country: Denmark