Columbarium - new album “The Morbidious One” out September 29th, 2023

Columbarium is a Belgian (from the village of Zwevegem) heavy Doom band which found its birth midst 2021, but was conceived of seasoned members from the doomscene since over ten years. Having played about a 100 gigs in a former setup in Belgium, the Netherlands and France with bands like The Gates Of Slumber, Nekromant, Marche Funèbre, Serpent Venom, FAAL, Famyne, King Hiss and at fests like Little Devil Doom Days etc., they have built a serious reputation as a live act in the last decade. The addition of an extra guitar/keyboard player some years ago (Koen Biesbrouck, formerly also from the avant-garde, instrumental band Locus Control) has taken the music to another horizon and that newfound sound of the band was the cradle for the bands rebirth. Columbarium found that sound in engaging with Belgian producer Lander Cluyse from Hearse Studio (Amenra, Aborted …) and with Brad Boatright from AudioSiege Mastering Studio (US/Portland who worked with the likes of Monolord and Pigdestroyer …). Together they found the sound they have always dug for in the Flemish clay. Columbarium played their first gig at the end of September 2021 with brothers in arms funeral doomband FAAL at the well-known underground club Little Devil in Tilburg/the Netherlands. Being the first gig in over two years at the venue, it was a memorable evening in a sold-out and very cozy setting.

As a teaser to the bands’ music Columbarium independently released a lyric-video for the song ‘Rivers Of Blood’ on the 17th of December 2021. It got noticed by Belgian independent label Dust & Bones Records and it was very quickly clear that labelmanager Frederik Vanhee and the boys were assimilated minds in being metalfreaks in heart and soul and having passed a lifetime of love for all kinds of different metalgenres. It resulted in the release of a first single ‘Rivers Of Blood’ with the title track and, even though it’s not, ‘B-side’ track ‘Save Our Children’. It was released on the 23rd of May (2022) on limited & handnumbered cassette and digital streaming and download on all platforms. The release was supported by a visualizer for the new song ‘Save Our Children’ which saw the dawn of day on the 23rd of May. The single was meant to be a ‘getting to know the band’ before they will release a full album in 2023.

Bass player/vocalist Pete states: ‘It feels rather uncomfortable to describe your own music and actually we don't like doing so, but we go through life as a heavy Doom metal band with influences ranging from blues to some earlier slower death metal. To say it with the words from our good friend William Nijhof of funeral doomband FAAL, ‘A super combi between miserable and brutal!’.

Having recorded that first full album with the title ‘The Morbidious One’ from April 2022 until mid July 2022, the mix and full production was finished in February 2023 by Lander Cluyse from Hearse Studio, that also did the first single in 2022. In March the band was picked up by Italian specialized Stoner/Doom/Sludge label Argonauta Records for release of the full album at around the end of September 2023.

Pete continues: ‘We couldn’t be more stoked to work with Argonauta to take the next step with them. They have an incredible trackrecord of supporting their bands and offered us a full package with vinyl, CD, and digital release, promotion through Grand Sounds and distribution through PIAS in Europe and the US. We feel like being blessed by one of the greatest European labels in the genre and can’t wait to work with them!’

Columbarium is:

Koen Biesbrouck: Guitars & keys

Marc ‘Markie’ Vangheluwe: Guitars

Vincent ‘Mille’ Millecam: Drums

Pete Jules V.: Bass & Vox

https://www.facebook.com/ColumbariumDoomation
https://columbarium.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/columbarium_doom
https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords