Review: Tabernacle “The Iron Tabernacle”
Release date: Out Now
Label: Stormspell Records
6 minutes
The Nwothm
Epic power doom with mystical progressive vibes. Formed in 2019, Tabernacle channels the spirit of Manilla Road, Omen, and Viking era Bathory into a sound that is hauntingly melodic and crushingly epic. Emerging from early Judas Priest–inspired roots, the trio of Rayner (guitars and vocals), Jasper (bass), and Shawn (drums) forged a darker path with their 2021 demo Terror in Thrace. Their debut full-length, The Iron Tabernacle, expands that vision with progressive flourishes reminiscent of Fates Warning (The Spectre Within) and Adramelch (Irae Melanox), weaving tales of ancient bloodshed, fallen empires, and spectral tragedy. For fans of Scald, Vendel, and the arcane edge of epic metal.
Release features:
- Jewel Case release with multi-page booklet featuring info, credits, lyrics, band photos
- Debut album by the Middle Eastern epic power doom combo with historical themes and progressive influences
- CD pressing limited to 300 copies worldwide
Review
Treasure Voyages is the intro song on the album and straight away there is an instance of calm. Acoustic guitars come in playing gentle, soft melodies against an airy backdrop and toms and eventually a weird synth which felt a bit out of place. But I love how easy going this intro feels. It almost feels emotions in passing. Great little start
Hannibal’s Crossing comes in like a neanderthal or troll with a club hunting down an enemy. The guitar tones are gritty and the whole low tone of the music gives it this edge, this sinister feel. Imagine riffs that feel meaty, something that you can really sink your teeth into and chew on. This style of heavy metal feels like a reflection of a cave dweller, or something dark that you would not want to cross paths with. In terms of pace the song remains steady throughout keeping everything tight and locked in. It is when the solo hits that the pace drops down to slow swagger helping listeners really get into the riffs. There is am interesting part of the song where the riffs start to break up and bits begin to dissolve where we the bass comes through.
On the Bloodied Fields of Westphalia opens with a flash of drums before dragging us into the riffs. Just like Hannibal’s Crossing everything feels very organic and at the same time slightly eerie. There was a moment where some of the riffs reminded of megadeth’s Five Magics but more earthy which was pretty cool. One vibe I do get from the music is that it feels very casual, a looseness to things and I am not sure if that is a good or bad thing. Almost if you have woken up from sleepless night. The music so far leans into epic/heavy-doom territories giving the music some weight, which to be honest suits the vocal style. Either way the song remains in that mid tempo kind of spot with raw riffs and an authentic feel.
The Curse of Akkad comes in with gliding strings before the rhythms and bass drop in. The music has this hopping feel in terms of the riff delivery adding some character to the music. Sometimes I do get this feeling that things are being pushed or trying to be held together, just down to how loose and relaxed the music is played. I am not sure if that is down to musicianship or the attitude of the members but It feels odd and a bit strange.There just feels like there is a lack of punch and I got this feeling in the last two tracks. The one thing that this song does deliver on is the chorus. The layered vocals and the vocal melody itself sounds very exotic like it is from distant sands. This shows when the creativity spark ignites and shows off what can be achieved.
The Legacy of Malik Ambar starts of with guitar effects before transitioning into the main body of the song. The music itself at times just feels sleepy and mellow in ways yet the rhythms jolt emphasising drum hits. All of this is going on while the bass wonders along in thought projecting its mind out loud. There are some interesting riffs going on but I am waiting for something to jump out and excite me. Maybe I am bias as I am more into faster stuff but even the slow feel of things is not hitting very hard. This is a track of almost 9 minutes and when we approach the second half of the song it feels like it could have been a second song. There is slightly more play in the pacing but the length for me started to burn my interest admittedly. It did pick up towards the end which woke me up slightly but I wished that been more present in the song.
The Dawn Weeps makes me think of of some space bing talking with the subtle strings and organ esque gently playing in the background. The spoken passage definitely captures your attention and is a surprising change in the rhythm of the album. But I am curious how it fits into the whole narrative of the album.
These Crying Seas is the final track on the album and once again takes a mid tempo approach with cascading riffs and rumbling drum ideas. The verses step up with the vocals a little bit as they feel brighter and a bit more creative in direction. In general the music leans on more weighty hungry riffs to drive the song forward. The tempo does pick up and It is a refreshing change in an album which sits predominantly at mid tempo speeds. Either way the riffs still feel dark and creepy which has been the majority of the record. Another solid and straightforward song that takes the album out.
Conclusion
Taken as a whole, the album feels like a band still exploring and developing its sound. There are moments of atmosphere and flashes of creativity, particularly in the choruses and occasional shifts in pacing, but much of the record sits in a mid‑tempo zone that doesn’t always deliver the excitement or punch it seems to reach for. The looseness in performance adds a raw, organic quality, yet at times it drifts into casualness that undercuts the impact. What emerges is a body of work that shows promise and identity in formation, but also leaves the sense that the band’s most compelling statement is still ahead of them.
TheNwothm Score: 7/10
Links
Bandcamp: https://tabernacle-hm.bandcamp.com/album/terror-in-thrace
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tabernacle.metal/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tabernaclemetal?utm_source=qr
Label: https://stormspell.bigcartel.com/product/tabernacle-the-iron-tabernacle-cd-preorder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSKXgXvCp_M
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The Nwothm
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