Tombs

An experimental metal ensemble hailing from Brooklyn, New York, Tombs formed in 2007 and fused the stark minimalism of post-rock with the raw intensity of sludge and traditional black metal. Drawing from influences such as Swans, Darkthrone, Black Flag, and Bauhaus, the group refined its singular take on blackened extreme metal through later works including Savage Gold in 2014 and The Grand Annihilation in 2017. Critical and commercial breakthrough arrived with the 2011 sophomore album Path of Totality.

Launched that same year as a project uniting Mike Hill of Anodyne, Dominic Seita from Speedloader, and Justin Ennis of the Heuristic, the band first captured its dark proto-industrial approach on a two-song EP also called Tombs. By the 2009 release of its Relapse debut full-length Winter Hours, Carson James and Andrew Hernandez of Asra had stepped in for Seita and Ennis. John Congleton, previously linked to Baroness and Explosions in the Sky, produced the acclaimed 2011 follow-up Path of Totality, which earned prominent placement on numerous year-end metal lists.

Erik Rutan handled production on Savage Gold, which also marked the arrival of guitarist Garett Bussanick and bassist Ben Brand. The 2017 outing The Grand Annihilation stood as the band’s most daring material to date. A 2019 agreement with Season of Mist preceded the 2020 appearance of the Monarchy of Shadows EP.