Coltsblood - Obscured Into Nebulous Dusk

Labels: Translation Loss Records/Dry Cough Records

Formats: Vinyl/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 05 May 2025

Tracklist:

1. Until The Eidolon Falls

2. Waning Of The Wolf Moon

3, Transcending The Immortal Gateways

4. Obscured Into Nebulous Dusk

Seeing monolithic UK doom band Coltsblood find a home on the roster of US institution Translation Loss Records for their latest album was so wholesome,  but seeing that they also chose to release it via UK underground legends Dry Cough Records made it even more so. They have a long association with the Manchester-based label though, as Dry Cough helped to release their 2014 album Into The Unfathomable Abyss. Obscured Into Nebulous Dusk was released in May on vinyl (Translation Loss), on tape (Dry Cough) and digitally. 

It feels like an age since I have featured a proper UK doom record here. As the nights draw in and the Autumn equinox is behind us, now feels like the right time (though it wasn’t planned this way). Coltsblood deliver four songs in just over forty minutes, beginning with ‘Until The Eidolon Falls’, which exhibits why their epic and heavy take on doom is so highly regarded. The bone-shaking bass, smattering of cymbals, waling feedback and subtle guitar melody slowly leads to rhythmic instrumental atmosphere. All of these elements build slowly over the next five-or-so-minutes before the vocals finally show themselves in all their deep and menacing glory. The remaining time is spent wallowing in deep furrows before the realisation that actually they’re endorphin inducing highs,

I referred to highs as a way of describing how it makes me feel when listening to music this heavy; which is obviously very at odds with the music itself, especially on ‘Waning Of The Wolf Moon’. It’s way more instant in delivery early on but it too contains plenty of breathable passages where Coltsblood allow themselves space to be more expansive and musically expressive at the same time. Obviously, there are those moments where up-tempo blasts and spurts of death metal take hold as well; adding to the body of influence and nuance that grows through this release. 

While the previous song may have seemed short, being just under ten minutes in length (only joking of course), there’s nothing to worry about on ’Transcending The Immortal Gateways’. It’s another expansive, almost cinematic take of doom metal that builds with spellbinding attention to detail and musicianship. I got lost in this song for way too long, which is kind of the point right? Being forever shackled to social media and feeling the constant need to swipe or scroll on the next video is killing attention spans. Listen to albums, not songs!

Closing with title-song ‘Obscured Into Nebulous Dusk’, the ominous sound of church organs ring out, almost providing context to the album’s artwork, which features the ruins of one such place of worship. Nothing about this song offers peaceful solace though, unless you fully allow it to envelope you in it’s unholy warmth. That warmth comes from the everflowing melody for the lead guitar, while the bass/percussion that sits underneath provides the perfect backdrop for those deep vocals to flourish once more. 

I’m sure it’s been said already but this album has all the hallmarks of doom album of the year. That’s a bold and somewhat subjective statement I know, but Coltsblood are consistently growing into a doom band that lead by example. I hope this release heralds a greater resurgence in UK doom.

You can stream and purchased Obscured Into Nebulous Dusk digitally from Coltsblood below:-

Physical copies can be purchased via the links below:-

Translation Loss Records - https://translationloss.com/products/obscured-into-nebulous-dusk-lp

Dry Cough Records - https://www.drycoughrecords.com/product/coltsblood-obscured-into-nebulous-dusk-cassette

Coltsblood - https://www.facebook.com/Coltsblood

Translation Loss Records - https://www.facebook.com/TranslationLossRecords

Dry Cough Records - https://www.facebook.com/DryCoughRecords