REVIEW: Domhain - atmospheric post-black metal from Northern Ireland

Domhain

In Perfect Stillness

These Hands Melt

20 February 2026

Domhain (2021-present; Northern Ireland; one EP in 2023 and some singles) operates in the field of something like atmospheric post-black metal, and they are something like one part mellow and soft music, and another part a blackmetal-derived form of extreme metal. I do not enjoy this album and I don't like this post-metal or post-black metal, but I admit that the band is very competent at their drawn-out form of sad, melancholic music. They feature both melodic and extreme vocals: the extreme vocals are mostly in the black metal style, I would say, and the melodic vocals are what in the United States some people would call, basically, alternative rock singing: sad, soft, emo, gentle, and a bit whiny, but not too whiny, mostly sad and soft, and kind of emo-ish.

Likewise, the music goes from unmelodic, semi-melodic, melancholic slow and midtempo passages, and then erupts into blackmetal-adjacent faster passages. Check it out, though, in the middle of "Footsteps II," in the middle of those midtempo passages, there are some wonderful melancholic melodies, and this part is, like, the perfect mix of the post and black metal, and it works very well for me. Well done, Domhain, well done!

In short, this band is, like, totally going for that atmospheric post-black metal shoegazy type of extreme metal, if that makes sense. There are plenty, and I mean a plethora, jefe, a plethora of smooth-soft emo segments that feel like a person is sad at the grey skies and rainy days. (I live in the Seattle area, and here people often look beaten down because we are in February and people feel like they have not seen the sun since September of the previous year. The sky is grey 24 hours a day, and there is no hope of seeing the sun and no hope of real warm weather until June. It is February, and June seems pretty far away.)

You know what, this album is starting to sound pretty good, come to think of it. Here, especially in Seattle itself, there are some metal shows in which people have their hoodies on and just kind of look down at the floor while vibing to this type of music. Come to think of it, this band would be well received by a large portion of the fans in this area, I would think.

I don't have the lyrics. Sometimes it seems like these type of bands often have lyrics that, to put it politely, are self-destructive, but I don't know about this particular case.

To conclude: If you like sad-intense post-metal, or if you are interested in that idea, then maybe you will enjoy this album. My two main complaints are (1) the lack of metal melodies and muscle (which post-metal bands don't like to do because they prefer subtle subdued semi-melodies), and (2) that the album feels too much like one big huge song of sad emotional post-metal. I would like more contrast, more transitions. On the other hand, I am a jerk, and I am not very smart, so, listen to this music and see what you think. Maybe I just introduced you to your new favorite band! You're welcome.

In Perfect Stillness by Domhain