US Death-doom trio DWELLING BELOW are back & they have brought with them the most dark, cavernous & gutteral album of 2025.
Formed in 2023 & featuring some prevalent figures with the death metal genre. Jared Moran (Hierarchies, Acausal Intrusion, Occulsed) on drums and vocals, Anthony Wheeler (Hierarchies) playing bass & finally on guitar Nicolas Turner (Hierarchies, Acausal Intrusion).
Their first album & self titled release is where i first heard about this savage unit of a band. Their style of death-doom took me by surprise. Mixing the influences of such greats as Incantation, Autopsy & Winter but adding in more haunting, darker & melodic elements then other groups.
Their sophomore album “Wearisome Guardians” sees them returning to one of the most prolific labels Transcending Obscurity Records, to release their most aggressive & feral album to date.
The album’s opening title track right from the start hits you hard. As the band slowly builds this epic intro. Single note Autopsy style guitar riffs are played & that slowly increase the tension & the band build & build.
Then they release into this dissonant section where drummer Jared Morans double kicks are relentless & also performing vocally at the same time, The man’s a monster.
Driving the track this section just feels you with dread but at the same time gets under your skin & has this catchy element to it. Like somehow you can’t let go of it. A great solo section of the track shows Turner’s not just great at horrid riffs but is able to write moments that brightens the track & elevates it even more.
With over 13 minutes of run time this track is full on, it drives & drives but never gets boring or tiresome. The band grab you the whole time. Just like the midpoint of the song the band switches things up, changes the pace enough to give you a different feeling / “vibe” if you will then will go back to the hammering that came before. This track is mammoth in its sound & size.
“Unfolding Universe” the follow up track doesn’t let go off the intense feeling the band created in the opener. Right from the opening riff they somehow have made an even more unsettling, discordant guitar riff & use of drums to create this very eerie but hypnotic rhythm to the song.
Turner also has another great solo section on this track that is even better than the last. The tone he has for his leads are a great contrast to the dark but punchy distorted rhythm guitar tone he has. While we’re talking about tone, bassist Wheeler’s thunderous bass tone is a great accompaniment to Turner’s guitar sound.
Wheeler isn’t hiding on this album. As a trio they have a great equal part in the sound, which l love. The album’s production is my favourite within this genre. Dirty & dank enough to patch a punch but also clear & precise enough to hear all three of the instruments inflections.
At the end section of the track there’s even a blasting section that almost dips its toes into black metal / war metal with its no holds barrage of punishment. But the band plays it long enough that it’s a nice character moment to the track & doesnt totally change the pace or feel of the track.
The most barbaric & primal track on the album “The Altar” is a solid slice of pure horror. The band opens the track with a full speed attack, Again Moran’s drumming on this is crazy, the great clicking double bass sound he captured on this album gives his drums a real punchy & assault like sound.
As the track progresses the band brings those dissonant elements, which really creates an uncomfortable but mesmerising atmosphere. There’s a strumming section that I could not put into words how to describe its tone, the way it’s played. It just sounds like Turner’s right hand is controlled by some cosmic entities to create such mind bending riffage.
Just to highlight Jared Moran’s vocals for a moment. When i first heard the band i thought they had a separate singer, when i learned that Morans plays drums & sings, i was honestly blown away. The ability he has to play such ferocious & demanding drums but also keep the guttural vocals as deep & depraved as he does. I have no idea how it does it & i hope to see it live some day as he’s a true animal.
Dwelling Below are a very special band. Since getting into the death-doom genre & diving deep into its expansive list of bands, Dwelling Below really stood out to me. The band might be a side project or full time band but whatever capacity they form there are doing something different & needed with the genre. Yes the core of the sound will please any much beloved cavernous, heavy riffage death-doom fan, but it’s what the band do within their song writing, melodic elements sprinkled throughout & over all tone that sets them apart as a band.
“Wearisome Guardians” is an absolutely tremendous follow up album to the band’s debut. It takes the sounds & formula from their previous effort & just expands their sound. Giving them even more power, drive & over all brutality to their already amazing sound.
Review: Joseph Mitchell
Wearisome Guardians is out via Transcending Obscurity Records on 31th October 2025
Line up –
Jared Moran (Hierarchies, Acausal Intrusion, Occulsed) – Drums and vocals
Anthony Wheeler (Hierarchies) – Bass
Nicolas Turner (Hierarchies, Acausal Intrusion) – Guitar
Artwork by Alex Shadrin/Nether Temple Design
Track listing –
1. Wearisome Guardians
2. Unfolding Universe
3. Interlude
4. Termination Experiments
5. The Altar
6. Sacraments
Dwelling Below Bandcamp
Official Transcending Obscurity Site
Transcending Obscurity Facebook
Dwelling Below Facebook
Official Label YouTube Channel