Album Review – Thorn / Nebulous Womb of Eternity (2025)

Phoenix, Arizona’s own Death/Doom Metal creature arises from its Stygian lair with its fourth studio offering, bringing forward more of its asphyxiating grasp like a pin-pricked voodoo ragdoll.

Having a knack of churning out punchy, rotten Death Metal hymns rife with some nasty, lurching grooves, Phoenix, Arizona’s own Death/Doom Metal creature Thorn arises from its Stygian lair with its fourth studio offering, entitled Nebulous Womb of Eternity, following up on its critically acclaimed 2023 opus Evergloom. Mixed and mastered  by Daniel Bonofiglio (Fumes, Gutvoid, Intestinal Hex, Grotesque Mass, Internal Infestation), and displaying a visceral artwork by Arifullah Ali of KanvasKarat, the new album by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Brennen Westermeyer brings forward more of the project’s asphyxiating grasp like a pin-pricked voodoo ragdoll, being therefore perfect for fans of bands the likes of Mortician, Fumes, Wharflurch, Fluids, Intestine Baalism, and Retching.

Brennen showcases all his passion for the extreme from the very first second in Ooze Maelstrom, crushing his drums nonstop in great Death Metal style while also adding an extra dosage of groove to the music, and our cryptic lone rider goes full Doom Metal in the utterly heavy and disturbing Entombed in Chrysalis, hammering his drums like there’s no tomorrow while also extracting pure malignancy from his riffs, ending in a beyond cadaverous way. Then back to a more in-your-face, straightforward Death Metal mode we have Quartersawn Remains, where Brennen sounds inhumane on vocals while also firing flammable, acid riffs. Zombifying Mold, featuring a guest solo by Daniel Bonofiglio, also sounds utterly inhumane for our total delight; and it’s pedal to the metal in the infuriated Haunting Gale, with its Death Metal core being nicely blackened by a good dosage of Doom Metal. Before all is said and done, we face the obscure, grim interlude Gloaming Corporeal Form, which could have been slightly shorter, setting the stage for the title-track Nebulous Womb of Eternity, featuring guest vocals by Ryan Fairfield (Hallowed Butchery, Toxic Cross), bringing to our putrid ears Brennen’s deep passion for heavy and visceral sounds, resulting in a scathing fusion of primeval death and doom where his vocals sound as cadaverous as possible.

In a nutshell, if you like the idea of Death Metal sounding massive, ponderous, and packed with heaving, earth-rumbling parts, then Nebulous Womb of Eternity is most certainly meant for you, and you can grab a copy of the album from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ BandCamp, main store, US store or EU store, adding it to your devilish collection of doom. Don’t forget to also check what Brennen and his Thorn are up to on Instagram, to stream all of his albums on Spotify, or simply click HERE for all things Thorn. This is definitely the type of music not recommended for the lighthearted. This is primeval, dirty and vile Death Metal, and you better be prepared if you think you have what it takes to face Nebulous Womb of Eternity.

Best moments of the album: Entombed in Chrysalis, Quartersawn Remains and Nebulous Womb of Eternity.

Worst moments of the album: Gloaming Corporeal Form.

Released in 2025 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Ooze Maelstrom 5:14
2. Entombed in Chrysalis 8:27
3. Quartersawn Remains 4:35
4. Zombifying Mold 4:19
5. Haunting Gale 3:54
6. Gloaming Corporeal Form 2:56
7. Nebulous Womb of Eternity 7:33

Band members
Brennen Westermeyer – vocals, all instruments

Guest musicians
Daniel Bonofiglio – guitar solo on “Zombifying Mold”
Ryan Fairfield – vocals on “Nebulous Womb of Eternity”