THE BEAST

Photo by Pasi Nevalaita

HOODED MENACE Cast Death-Doom in Ghoulish New Light on Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration
Watch the creepy, crushing video for lead single "Portrait Without a Face"

Out October 3, 2025 via Season of Mist

Finland’s masters of morbidity, Hooded Menace , return from the crypt with their most ambitious and haunting record yet. Set to release Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration on October 3rd via Season of Mist, the death-doom stalwarts are once again redefining the genre they helped shape—this time through a chilling blend of classic horror atmosphere and unexpected melodic twists.

The lead single, “ Portrait Without a Face ,” debuted with a ghoulishly immersive video that draws from vintage horror cinema and features direction by Tekla Valy , with additional footage by Mikko Saastamoinen . The track is as visually arresting as it is sonically devastating—pounding, spectral, and soaked in eerie cello passages courtesy of former live bassist Antti Poutanen , hauntingly layered under Harri Kuokkanen ’s growls and Pekka Koskelo ’s hammering drums.

🔗 Watch the video on the Season of Mist YouTube channel

An Undying Legacy, Reawakened

For over two decades, Hooded Menace have stood not as a bridge but as a towering pillar between doom’s eerie origins and death metal’s punishing weight. Now, on their seventh full-length , they continue their macabre evolution—pulling equally from the gothic grandeur of Candlemass and Paradise Lost , and the heavy metal histrionics of King Diamond , all while dragging their own rotting sound into uncharted territory.

While still drenched in gloom and horror, Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration surprises even longtime fans with added instrumentation, horror-laced cello, and neon-streaked nightmares. Guitarist and founder Lasse Pyykkö , whose riffs are the beating undead heart of the band, notes even he was caught off guard by what rose from the grave in this new material.

A Vinyl Lover’s Nightmare Dream

Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration will be available in multiple formats:

Digital download

CD Digipack

12" Black Vinyl

12" Colored Vinyl: Red, Purple, Crystal Clear (w/ red & blue marble)

12" Liquid-filled Vinyl in Slime Yellow

🎃 Pre-order & Pre-save now

The artwork by Wes Benscoter (inspired by Amando de Ossorio’s The Blind Dead ) furthers the album's macabre aesthetic, offering a perfect visual complement to the creeping riffs and slow-burning fury that lie within.

Critical Acclaim from the Shadows

Already, the upcoming album and lead single are gaining traction across the metal world. Decibel , BangerTV , Metal Injection , and Invisible Oranges have all taken notice:

“ A punch in the gut ” – Invisible Oranges
“ Hooded Menace are back to put on a death-doom clinic ” – Everything Is Noise
“ They’ve gone above and beyond… challenging both their playing and the listener ” – No Clean Singing
“ Risks can pay off—and Hooded Menace proves it ” – Distorted Sound

From the genre-warping hooks to the funeral-paced heaviness, Hooded Menace continue to honor the old gods of death-doom while blazing their own mournful path forward.

Long Live the Menace

With Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration , Hooded Menace prove once again that they are not content to rest in peace. As metal’s undisputed masters of horror-infused death-doom , this album cements their legacy while casting their sound in an even darker, more cinematic light.

Prepare to be sucked into the realm of sweet damnation .

🪦 For fans of: Candlemass, Paradise Lost, King Diamond, Saint Vitus, and all things creepy, crushing, and doom-laden.