UK death-doom veterans CONSECRATION sink even deeper into the grave with “Exanimis”, a crushing fourth album built from monolithic riffs, funeral-weight atmosphere and bursts of raw death-metal violence. Bleak, patient and mercilessly heavy, it feels like the walls are moving inward with every song.
Rooted firmly in the old British death-doom tradition, “Exanimis” carries echoes of early MY DYING BRIDE, ENCHANTMENT and DECOMPOSED, but CONSECRATION avoid sounding like a museum piece. The production is thick and modern enough to give every riff real physical weight, while the songs retain that early-’90s sense of dread and decay.
“Herald Of Darkness” opens the record with a slow descent, setting the tone before “Configuration Of Lamentation” stretches past seven minutes and fully locks into the album’s oppressive pace. It is less about immediate impact than letting the atmosphere settle around you until there is nowhere comfortable left to stand.
“Submerged In Sand” is shorter and more direct, with Rich Mumford of MALEDICTION adding a guest solo, while “Domain Of Despair” brings Greg Chandler of ESOTERIC into the vocal arrangement and pushes the record toward an even darker, more cavernous edge.
“Harvester Of The Forsaken” and “The Bitterness Of Grief” keep the album buried under slow-moving riffs and mournful melodies, before “Descent Into Derangement” turns the psychological pressure up another notch.
The closing “Cold Grey Stone” is one of the album’s strongest statements, with Paul Jones of ENCHANTMENT adding guest vocals. It feels like the record finally reaching bedrock — cold, final and completely devoid of light.
There is very little relief across “Exanimis”, and that is precisely the point. CONSECRATION do not treat doom as decoration; they let repetition, weight and atmosphere become part of the composition itself.
Country: UK
Label: Nuclear Winter Records
Genre: Death-Doom Metal / Doom Metal
Release date: May 29, 2026
Format: CD / Vinyl / Cassette / Digital
Total time: 48:45
Tracklist:
01 – Herald Of Darkness (5:14)
02 – Configuration Of Lamentation (7:56)
03 – Submerged In Sand (3:48)
04 – Domain Of Despair (7:46)
05 – Harvester Of The Forsaken (5:41)
06 – The Bitterness Of Grief (4:43)
07 – Descent Into Derangement (6:01)
08 – Cold Grey Stone (7:36)
Daniel Bollans – Vocals
Mathew Bollans – Bass
Liam Houseago – Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Andy Matthews – Lead, Rhythm & Acoustic Guitars
Jorge Figueiredo – Drums & Percussion
Guests:
Rich Mumford – Guitar Solo on “Submerged In Sand”
Greg Chandler – Guest Vocals on “Domain Of Despair”
Paul Jones – Guest Vocals on “Cold Grey Stone”
Recorded and mixed at Priory Studios, Birmingham
Produced by Greg Chandler & Consecration
Mastered by Greg Chandler
Artwork by Daniel Bollans
