Let’s think out of the box for a moment, shall we? I was bitching at someone lately who thought that the trve spirit of Black Metal has gone missing. And by that the commentator probably meant those early days when churches were burning and murders committed in a daemonically confused frenzy of bible studies gone astray. Well, things are a bit more complex than that.
You still got the choirboys of the underworld, such as Darkend or Corpus Diavolis that blatantly indulge in tall tales contained in dusty, old books concocted by – someone in the annals of time. And then others emerged, who use the mighty vox of blackened alloy to describe imaginary musings, historical traits, or complex, melancholically-tainted studies of the human mind. So, what flavor are we going to meet this time? Let’s dive in.
Here’s to Domhain, a band from Northern Ireland. Judging by the location and early imagery extracted from the net, the RMR crew first expected fiddles and bagpipes in a Folk Metal pirate setting. But not so. Instead, the mourning cello greets you unexpectedly with Una Tarra Ci Hé, a worthy intro for once. Its wistfully moody vox will accompany the record throughout the relatively short playtime. So, straight away, In Perfect Stillness kidnaps your senses and transports your inner ass into a Post Black setting to a world of somber moods and atmospheric chants. Of quiet reflection and halting moments that make you pause on an imaginary beach, you shouldn’t linger on for too long. Or a watery grave will gleefully devour you sometime later.
Halting switches from Post Black into blistering Blast Metal will usurp your senses. Highly melodic passages followed by harmonious disharmony set the scene for poignant melancholy, a sense of doom that is difficult to escape. And that’s supported by atmospheric passages that expertly capture the age-old theme of death and dying. In many ways, Domhain here sound like an island-bound reincarnation of Alcest, the sorrowful laments of Woods of Ypres, with a few pinches of Saor‘s quieter musings thrown in for good measure.
In Perfect Stillness, the band’s debut, positively weeps sorrow and woe. Often expressed in clear voice vocals, the band uses rasps, snarls, and grinding growls to mark the heftier passages that slowly emerge from the mists in that watery realm. The RMR crew enjoyed the melodically ingrained tremolos freely flowing towards the tasty riffing and measured bridges. All of this comes on a stately yet resolute wave of expertly crafted drumwork that’s always present but never overwhelmingly so.
And thus, Domhain are blackgazing their way through a weavy selection of meandering emotions, grey-toned moods, and acrid flavors. Their message isn’t a smooth-smelling one of spring and wildflowers. Instead, you get a wretched sense of foreboding and decay. In Perfect Stillness expertly dispenses desolate sorrow onto a canvas of melodious metal that finds its roots as much in the Atmospheric Black Metal realm as it does in the murkier sections of Doom Metal proper à la My Dying Bride. And all of that culminates in a masterful demonstration of their craft in the last track My Tomb Beneath The Tide. The one featuring Sarah Wieghell of Darkest Era.
But make no mistake. All of them miserable, blackgaze-infested musings in this here record speak of outstanding songsmithing skills. Of a knack to connect just the right dots, when it comes to the arrangement and an expertly set mix and master. And that’s not something this crew gets every day of the week. So, in a way, In Perfect Stillness, turned into one of the early surprises of 2026. And it tells of prospects of a bright future for Domhain going forward.
Record Rating: 8/10 | Label: These Hands Melt | Web: Official Band Site
Release Date: 20 February 2026