Combining death metal, black metal, doom metal, progressive metal, post-grunge, and occasionally described as “blackened death groove,” GLOOM earns a place in the pantheon of heavy music in closer proximity to timeless giants than forgettable clones. GLOOM represents honesty in its glorious heaviness, philosophically and musically. The fact that Musicians Institute graduate Dante Dalton, the band’s guitarist, has worked on film scores will come as no surprise after hearing the more cinematic moments within. Drummer Albert Born is a trained aerospace engineer; it would be both an easy joke to say that his propulsive pummeling gives the band a lift. Like the rest of his close friends in the band, bassist Jason Sayell offers a true emotional outpouring. Their music is deadly serious and cathartic, while the guys are fun loving and easygoing in everyday life.