Gothic Death Metal

Netherlands

Released 19th January, 2026

The Groningen quintet galvanise their gothic sound with album number 2.

Although, technically this is SAD WHISPERINGS first proper album, it’s only a name change from The Bleeding (and the odd replacing member here and there) that is different.

Indeed, if you go on their streaming accounts, you will find The Bleeding’s only album, Sensitive To Autumn, has been rebranded as a SAD WHISPERINGS LP. No problem there, in my eyes.

What does stand out, is the improvements across the board on their latest release, THE HERMIT, that have been made.

I’ll admit, it has been over thirty years since that former release, but the fact stands. THE HERMIT is a streamlined and dark, polished album.

A lovely piano and keyboard opens the album with HEART OF DARKNESS, and the intro is all gothic and good.

Very Paradise Lost.

It then warps into a gnarly, classic death metal monster. All groovy drums and thick, tidy riffage.

Further on, SHADOW WORK lets them flex some atmospheric muscle with some nice keyboard among the slick guitar work.

Of course, you can’t have anything gothic without a truly bleak, doomy track. Here is where UNIVERSE 25 gets you going for a couple of minutes before it becomes all hooks and catchy tunage, while MYSTIQUE runs with the idea to marvelous results.

Of the eight tracks on THE HERMIT, there isn’t much not to like. It’s a balanced album, expanding on its source, with equal amounts of accessibility thrown in to maintain a signature that stands out.

The theatrical embellishments on show are just what these winter months crave sometimes, and it appears that SAD WHISPERINGS have read the prompt, delivering a classy opus that suggests adding a bit more purple into your wardrobe.

  THE HERMIT by SAD WHISPERINGS is out and available via Vidar Records on streaming sites now.

On Spotify and Amazon music here…

https://open.spotify.com/album/155hOpLFVjoh4pNsqcxpEd?si=ShE-67p0TjG-M5LLrtQ3mw

http://Check out The Hermit by Sad Whisperings on Amazon Music
https://music.amazon.co.uk/albums/B0GFXFKW1H?ref=dm_sh_Y2nwDfLyOHlqr3D7HBFEWpG3Z