the past melts away with a sneer

tracklisting

1. the past melts away with a sneer (48:29)

press release

"the past melts away with a sneer" is the 4th lp from cardiff (wales, uk) based one-man-band doubtsower.

shaped by the principle of album-as-journey, and rejecting the call for artists to release as much content as often as possible, it consists of a single 48 minute long track - a chapter-closing culmination of experimentation and uncompromising dirt, obliterating the lines between blackened / funeral doom, post-rock, sludge, horror soundtrack inspired production experimentation and more.

aesthetically raw, fuelled by the punk diy ethic, the album was self-recorded in practice room spaces and at home, with greg chandler (from legendary funeral doom band esoteric) handling mastering duties.

taking inspiration from a slew of underground scenes (outside of doubtsower, strangis plays bass in doom merchants "pantheist", and also produces experimental electronic music under the alias "kyam"), "the past melts away with a sneer" is an intensely personal, disorientating descent into a nihilistic free-for-all.

written and recorded between april 2023 and october 2025.

available digitally and on limited-run cd, on strangis' own ubaii / unbidden audio label.

reviews

"The Past Melts Away with a Sneer has caused me to question my usually negative relationship with experimental metal. It has left me feeling disoriented, but in a good way, and it’s an experience that I recommend for the curious and lovers of the weird" (angry metal guy)

"as close as to perfection you’ll ever hear in the world of experimental doom metal" (outlaws of the sun)

"the phrase “there is nothing new under the sun,” isn’t something doubtsower knows anything about... The album is weird and strange in the best ways possible but it always makes sense... imaginative songwriting that backs up its unique vision with a metric ton of confidence." (doom charts peroration january 2026 / doomed for metal)

"it’s a mightily ambitious work" (nine hertz)

"doubtsower should be exceedingly proud of what’s been accomplished here, for it’s a feat of strength and artistry the likes of which we very rarely get to experience" (headbanger reviews)

"has been producing some of the most experimental sounds in the genre for a good few years now" (musipedia of metal)