Beneath Oblivion is a four piece Cincinnati, Ohio based doom metal

Doom metal

Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...

 band. Since forming in 2003 they have released a demo, a full-length album, a 10" split LP, and a 10" record. As of April 2011, the band has just finished mastering their new double LP record titled 'From Man to Dust' with Billy Anderson, tenatively due to be released in August 2011 on Mylene Sheath Records.

History

After forming in 2003 Beneath Oblivion went on to record a demo titled 'The Melancholy Demo' in 2004 before recording and self releasing their first album 'Existence Without Purpose' on CD in 2006. Originally sold at shows and through the band the album received worldwide acclaim, garnering positive reviews from as far afield as Russia as well as in their home country. Following the release the band toured extensively, increasing awareness of their music both in the Cincinnati area and nationwide.
In 2007 Beneath Oblivion recorded a split LP with the Providence, Rhode Island

Providence, Rhode Island

Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...

 band Sin of Angels. The split album was released on the independent label 43rd Parallel and was limited to 500 copies, 150 on green vinyl and 350 on black .
In 2008 they were signed to the Athens, Georgia based record label The Mylene Sheath

The Mylene Sheath

The Mylene Sheath is an independent record label, founded by Joel Proper and Lindsay Palmer. The label originated in 2007 in Covington, Kentucky and recently relocated to Athens, Georgia...

. They went on to release their first record for The Mylene Sheath on February 10, 2009. A self-titled 10" record, the album was released exclusively on vinyl and limited to 500 copies: 100 clear with white swirl available exclusively from the band at shows, 100 black available exclusively from The Mylene Sheath web store, and 300 pressed in translucent red with white swirl. Both the mail order and show exclusive versions sold out very quickly. The record was a substantial step forward from the first album, going beyond the traditional boundaries of doom and sluge metal. The release was supported with a number of shows including a Mylene Sheath showcase with labelmates Gifts From Enola

Gifts From Enola

Gifts From Enola is a four-piece instrumental post-rock band from Harrisonburg, Virginia. Their music is characterised with a strong riff-orientated guitar sound along with the soft-loud approach prevalent in some post-rock. They have released three full length albums and a split album...

 and If These Trees Could Talk

If These Trees Could Talk

If These Trees Could Talk is an instrumental post-rock band from Akron, Ohio. The band self-released their debut self-titled EP, If These Trees Could Talk, in 2006...

. The record received almost unanimously favorable reviews and catapulted the band into the higher echelons of doom metal groups.

Future

As of May 2011, Beneath Oblivion has recorded their forthcoming 2xLP titled 'From Man to Dust,' and mastered it with legendary producer/engineer Billy Anderson. The record due for release sometime in August 2011 again on the Mylene Sheath. Like most releases through the Mylene Sheath, fans can expect elaborate packaging/finish and different colors of vinyl on a gatefold as well as CD and digital release. It is also anticipated that the recrd label will re-release 'Existence Without Purpose' sometime in the future but this is unconfirmed.

Discography

'Existence Without Purpose' – self released (2006)
'Split' – 43rd Parallel (2007)
'Beneath Oblivion' – The Mylene Sheath (2009)

Influences

As with the majority of doom metal bands Beneath Oblivion's music is primarily concerned with the darker aspects of the human psyche

Psyche (psychology)

The word psyche has a long history of use in psychology and philosophy, dating back to ancient times, and has been one of the fundamental concepts for understanding human nature from a scientific point of view. The English word soul is sometimes used synonymously, especially in older...

. They claim the main influences on their music are 'struggle, depression, life, death, isolation, inner and outer turmoil'.

Press

'Beneath Oblivion is Cincinnati, Ohio’s finest in doom, despair and futility. Crawling forward, white-knuckled with down-tuned guitar riffs that leave you unnerved and anxious, bass lines that thud hard enough to leave you nauseous, and drums that thump one minute in a tribal, trance-inducing cavalcade and the next crashing down with the power of a mountain splitting in two. And though self-lamenting enough to satisfy anyones deepest wallowing, it challenges you to use your sorrow as a fuel to conquer and persevere.' (from The Mylene Sheath artists page)

Links

• Interview with Citybeat Magazine

Sin of Angels' Myspace
Review of 'Existence Without Purpose' at Hellride Music
Review of 'Beneath Oblivion' 10" at The Big Takeover Magazine
Beneath Oblivion biography and reviews at The Encyclopedia Metallum
Beneath Oblivion's Last.fm page
Beneath Oblivion at Discogs
Facebook group
A live performance of the track 'One Year of Deprivation' can be viewed here