Gather ‘round, ghosts and ghouls, for today I have something very special to share with you today. Hailing from the icy provinces of Canada, Nepenthe are unveiling a new track from their upcoming debut on Hypaethral Records.
Capturing the full sound of Nepenthe is no easy feat, since they embrace influences from across the full spectrum of folk, goth rock, doom, post-metal, and black metal. No mere hints reside on The Fading Promise of Tomorrow & Elegies of Loss and Doom – Nepenthe fully invoke each subgenre to a powerful degree, creating a highly emotional and haunting mix. Lush folk cascades into soaring riffs haunted by mournful vocals, only to be cut by harsh black metal aggression. The entire onslaught is wrapped in a chilling post-metal haze for the perfect fall soundtrack.
The new single, “Time Time Time,” stands out as a cover of Danish neofolk project Of the Wand and the Moon. Unlike most covers, which are added as bonus tracks that stand slightly apart from the rest of the album, “Time Time Time” lands at track 3 of The Fading Promise of Tomorrow & Elegies of Loss and Doom. Re-imagined as an epic doom song teetering on the edge of funeral, Nepenthe’s version of “Time Time Time” is simultaneously gloomy and romantic, haunted and triumphant.
Lyricist, vocalist, and drummer Konrad Schröder shared why “Time Time Time” was the perfect choice for Nepenthe’s new album:
"We chose to cover Of the Wand and the Moon as a way to pay respect to our folk influences, but we arranged it to show a personal twist. We feel that the result is a perfect fit, not only musically speaking, but also due to Larsen's lyrics, which evoke a melancholic reflection on the passage of time."
Equal parts of Cruachan, Ragana, and Harakiri for the Sky, Nepenthe might have created one of my favorite doom albums of 2024.
The Fading Promise of Tomorrow & Elegies of Loss and Doom drops on November 15th on Hypaethral Records. Pre-order the album on Bandcamp and listen to “Time Time Time” below.