A good album for the season, complete with death metal growls and grim guitars.

Released in October 2025, veteran doom purists Hooded Menace’s seventh studio album is titled Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration.This release features seven lengthy, seven-minute tracks and continues to solidify their sound.  The epic collection of tracks are a monolithic tribute to classic European doom from the ’80s-’90s, threaded with a strong horror element.

The musical composition and songwriting of Hooded Menace are heavily reliant on founder Lasse Pyykkö, who primarily handles the lead guitar, along with the keyboards and bass. Pyykkö’s influences, shared by the rest of the band, include King Diamond, Mercyful Fate and Ozzy Osbourne. This core trio — completed by Harri Kuokkanen on vocals and Pekka Koskelo on drums — often presents a classic speed-thrash aspect that is melodic at times. Kuokkanen’s harsh, visceral vocals are non-stop, adding a menacing dimension that perfectly complements Pyykkö’s wailing guitars.

Moving on to the album’s remarkable cover of Duran Duran’s “Save a Prayer,” stands out. It’s an excellent showcase for the lead guitar, which soars with a smooth intensity from start to finish, easily surpassing the original’s synths and including a few powerful solos. This is all set against a backdrop of steady, melodious riffs and Kuokkanen’s distinctive, dread-soaked growls.

The album’s second track, “Pale Masquerade,” embodies many doom metal characteristics, focusing on the theme of physical decay and maintaining a distinctly ghoulish feel. Moreover, this seven-minute piece is peppered with spontaneous solos that erupt throughout the run time. The song features a distinct middle section: a descending passage that precedes a soaring guitar solo, which then transitions into catchy, galloping riffs.

Furthermore,“Portrait Without a Face,” the album’s third musical piece, is another melodious, haunting song that showcases the band’s signature sound. It begins with a sorrowful tune that creates an atmosphere of lingering death. Also, the melancholy song has lyrics that further generate images of a faceless death that are, “Sucked into the realm of sweet damnation.”

Infused with despair and death, Hooded Menace’s Finnish doom metal sound, as heard in Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration, is great for genre fans. Their meticulous craftsmanship ensures a macabre mix, fully realizing the album’s bleak, unrelenting vision.