Review: Endonomos “Endonomos II – Enlightenment” [Argonauta Records]

At the end of last autumn, the Austrian doom/death metal band Endonomos released their second full-length album Endonomos II – Enlightenment via Argonauta Records. On this album, the quartet continues to explore the possibilities of traditional doom, merging it with doom/death and seasoning it with melancholic melodies, without falling into schmaltzy sentimentality or overt suicidality. The band leans into themes of sorrow and darkness, long-time staples of doom metal, but avoids despair and abyssal hopelessness, instead leaving a subtle trace of distant light, a glimmer of hope.

Endonomos was formed in 2021 in Austria, and after a couple of singles, they released their self-titled debut Endonomos, revealing their creative potential and making their presence known to the doom/death metal community. They quickly caught the attention of Argonauta Records, a significant label within the genre. Although Endonomos is a full-fledged band, it’s evident that its soul lies in the frontman and bassist Lukas Haidinger, who is responsible for both the music and lyrics, and is a prolific musician involved in numerous other projects. Their music balances between the traditions of classic doom, leaning toward heavy metal; and the melodic doom/death of the Scandinavian school, without fully merging the two into a single unified sound. Instead, their songs play out more as transitions between these two modes: moving from heavy/doom traditions into a denser doom/death sound, and then into soft yet mournful melodies. There’s no fixed formula, though; while some bands construct songs uniformly, Endonomos embraces a degree of chaos in their compositions, however not through experimentation, noise, or messiness. Despite this, the music sounds beautiful from an aesthetic standpoint, with a sense of refinement acting almost as a decorative background element. Some doom/death metal bands radiate grotesque energy, while others – like Endonomos – prefer to embody a sense of sonic elegance.

Endonomos II – Enlightenment is steeped in melancholy and nostalgia, a state of being suspended in time, cherishing sorrow within a perpetual moment of voluntary agony. As the music plays, all social concerns seem to dissolve, fading into a pitiful memory. The album has a portal-like quality, easily aligning with the listener’s emotional state and drawing them deeper into the obscure thickets of vague longing. It’s not background music in the conventional sense, it demands attention. As you listen, you begin to feel yourself being pulled in, not so much by a desire to analyse the structure of each composition, but rather by the immersive atmosphere itself. This type of emotional engagement is more typical for ultra-slow funeral doom or ambient doom.

It’s worth noting that the traditional doom elements in Endonomos II – Enlightenment are more on the simple side, but this simplicity is aligned with minimalism rather than lacking sophistication. The album opens with “Inversion” – a slow, melodic track that blends the classic side of doom with a more tuneful edge, setting the stage for the album’s dual vocal approach: both growling and clean singing, typically used in contrast to one another. Next comes “Atheon Anarkhon”, with its ancient Greek title and eerie beginning. It features a long, masterfully diverse guitar passage full of emotions, and throughout this composition, ethnic motifs can also be heard, adding more depth and character. “Resolve” leans more toward pure doom – slow, calm, and melancholic, with mournful vocals. “Entrapment” stands out for its compelling riffs, continuing the album’s atmosphere of minor-key gloom and weariness. A pleasant surprise awaits in “Hostile”, which features guest vocals from Daniel Droste, the singer and guitarist of the legendary German band Ahab. It’s a monotone yet melodic composition marked by Droste’s signature voice, lending it a weighty, solemn presence. The album closes with “Kafir Qal’a” named after an abandoned citadel in present-day Afghanistan, and this final track encapsulates everything Endonomos is known for: the simplicity of traditional heavy/doom, the gravity of doom/death, and the melancholy of melodic doom metal.

The album’s artwork also evokes rather contradictory associations – its simplicity of concept and classic illustration style fade into the background, giving way to raw emotion, to the simultaneous presence of birth and death, experiences that rarely leave anyone indifferent. The music follows the same principle: a play on contrasts, a delicate balancing act between tradition and extremity, all without sacrificing melody or impactful moments. Endonomos II – Enlightenment has the power to scatter even the darkest shadows, and despite its slow, drawn-out pacing, these 48 minutes fly by in an instant, pulling you away from all daily concerns and allowing you to fully dissolve into the music, here and now.

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