When lockdowns hit the globe in early 2020, it changed the course of life for everyone. A time which resulted in frustration, anxiety, and uncertainty for many, some were able to harness all of these feelings into something creative, like MMXX.
MMXX, a Doom Metal project that formed as a result of such lockdowns, consists of former The Foreshadowing Guitar Andrea Chiodetti, along with Daylight Dies Drummer Jesse Haff and Bassist Egan O’Rourke. An exceptional pairing of talents, the three gathered song concepts together and created a series of songs that first emerged in the spring of 2022 with “Perdition Mirror,” “This Breath Is Not My Breath,” before “Shadow Haven” later that summer. Dark, intricating, and diverse, what immediately became evident about what MMXX was the varying vocals; ranging from growls to ultra clean, haunting. A style that is common use in Doom Metal, what stands out with MMXX is that they collaborations with several others outsiders to provide vocals for their songs – this would include Swallow the Sun’s Mikko Kotamäki, Antimatter’s Mick Moss, Alicia Nurho (who has provided violin work for Paradise Lost in the past), along with the incomparable Dan Swanö.
With this you get a very eclectic sound within what MMXX is doing because of the different styles of each who contributes. Something fans of Doom Metal will be interested to check out, they followed up later November of 2022 with their full-length debut album Sacred Cargo. Now in 2023 they keep it coming with their last EP, The Next Wave. Released on April 14th through Candlelight Records, the new EP offers 3 songs, also produced by Swanö, that were not featured on Sacred Cargo.
This all-in mind, if you did not catch Sacred Cargo, it is urged that you do. If you have done so already, then The Next Wave is a great companion to that. Around 17 minutes of music, it offering the immense “Isolation” with Kotamäki’s Swallow the Sun’s deep bellows, “Alone,” with a sorrowful emotional vocal performance from Moss of Antimatter, before Alicia Nurho captivates you with an enchanting delivery on the delicate “Echoes.”
Overall, MMXX is a fantastic addition to the modern Doom Metal world. With three veteran players from the genre steering the ship, it will be interesting to see what they will put together next. Will it be another vocalist by committee collection, or will they employ a full-time singer? Only time will tell, but the way they have done things thus far creates an enticing place for some of the genre’s best to do something different. That is why Cryptic Rock looks forward to more, and gives The Next Wave 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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