Now to start I have never read the book that Ahab are named after (Herman Melville's 'Moby Dick') and the only exposure I actually got to the tale itself was via Mastodon's 2004 album.

This second release however is inspired by a different tale entirely: 'In The Heart Of The Sea' and 'The Wreck Of The Whaleship Essex' (the latter actually inspiring Melville to write 'Moby Dick') so the lyrical content is fitting of a doomed crew forced to do unsavoury things such as cannibalism to survive.

Grim huh? But that's the point of the genre that Ahab reside in (according to Ahab themselves they are 'Funeral Nautic Doom Metal'), it's supposed to be depressing and grim (so if you are currently depressed or are of a depressive nature I'd recommend not listening to the genre).

Where Ahab differs entirely to other doom metal releases is the actual inspiration of the content itself. The music and lyrical tone shall be familiar to any fan of the genre (very similar to early My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost with a bit of Opeth post 'Blackwater' thrown in for good measure).

My personal take is that if you're already a fan of Doom Metal then you'll get this and enjoy it (like myself) but if you're a newcomer to the genre then I would suggest you try the first few albums by My Dying Bride first.

Recommended for fans of the genre and storytelling music.