Published: September 21, 2013

From Melbourne, Australia, comes Subterranean Disposition, a one-man doom band featuring Terry Vainoras. Also of Order of Chaos and formerly of Earth and a few others, Terry’s newest project is a very good example of what to do with doom.

Five tracks spanning just under fifty-five minutes in length, this self-titled debut shows incredible amounts of doomy heaviness with more than a fair dosage of death metal riffery. The songs, in typical doom fashion, are epics; the shortest being a mere eight minutes and fifty-one seconds long.

Vocally, Terry primarily uses death growls. However, he also uses to great effect spoken word as well. My favorite vocal performance on the album is “The Most Subtle of Storms”, switching between quiet, effect-laden spoken word to a very powerful roar.

The music of Subterranean Disposition is slow moving, and very rooted in the traditions of funeral doom. Most of the album is ruled by the riff, and these riffs are monstrous and heavy. At times My Dying Bride is evinced, other times Mournful Congregation, and even a touch of Moss and Woods of Ypres. Progression within the concepts of the genre are presented, most strongly in “The Most Subtle of Storms”, which uses saxophone of all instruments coupled with an almost 80’s movie soundtrack bass swing.

In all, epic songs with great riffs that keep the listener engaged is the order of the day on Subterranean Disposition’s debut self-titled album. Fans of other Australian doom bands as well as the Louisiana and Philadelphia doom scenes should definitely take the time to check out Subterranean Disposition.