TodoMal's latest album, Graveyards of Joy, is a doom metal epic that channels the desolate beauty of Spanish landscape painter Lluís Rigalt's masterpiece, Ruines. The album is a continuation of a trilogy that began with 2021's Ultracrepidarian and 2023's A Greater Good, and it promises "slow-burning, widescreen doom" with a cinematic scale and a personal scope. The album's artwork, featuring Rigalt's Ruines, is a stunning representation of the real wonders of Spain, a country that TodoMal draws inspiration from. The band's goal is to craft an album that balances hope and light with sorrow and hurt, and they succeed in creating a cohesive and uplifting listening experience. The album's opener, "Mare Ignis," sets the tone with its bright strings and transcendent keys, creating an immediate sense of reverie and worship. Despite the album's occasional oppressive and melodramatic moments, TodoMal manages to infuse joy into their music, making it a refreshing take on doom metal. The band's production job is exceptional, giving life to every instrument and providing rich texture to the acoustic folk playing. The album's highlights, such as "Mare Ignis," "Unholy," and "Humanised Gods," act as beacons in the otherwise pleasant and placid seas of the album. While some tracks may be forgettable, they are still rejuvenated by the bright production job. Overall, Graveyards of Joy is a beautiful listening experience that resonates with an almost religious or spiritual energy. The album's musical style and themes make it a must-listen for fans of doom metal and progressive metal, and it is recommended for those who enjoy artists like Messa, Candlemass, and Green Carnation. TodoMal's unique blend of doom metal and acoustic folk, along with their ability to balance dichotomous themes, makes them a band to watch in the doom metal scene.
