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Personnel:
Alice Gawlinski – vocals
Chance Gawlinski – guitar
Alton Minor – bass
Mike Benitez – percussion
Artwork: Alice Gawlinski
Producer: Alton Minor and Mothertomb
Release Date: July 14, 2026
Record Label: Independent
I am not a big fan of doom metal, but there are always a few exceptions that catch my attention, and Mothertomb is easily on that list. The Northern Michigan band has just released their debut full-length album, Dying to Live. Mothertomb put a lot of care into this record being an independent effort, and it shows. From the songwriting to the overall presentation, Dying to Live feels focused, complete, and carefully crafted from start to finish.
Dying to Live immediately sets a dark, gothic atmosphere with minimal instrumentation and vocalizations that draw you into its world. From there, the album combines influences from different genres into Mothertomb‘s own interpretation of doom metal. It’s a solid base to build upon, and it slides right into the story of the album, setting the stage for the heavy, atmospheric sounds to come.
If you’re into any of these artists, this album should be on your radar.
As I mentioned before, I am not usually an avid consumer of doom metal. I often need a little push to dive into a doom metal band or album, and this time, that push was “Mountain Hag”. The song moves naturally between slow, dragging doom passages and faster, heavier stoner metal grooves, while its deep spiritual lyrics make it a full circle.
Mothertomb brought together elements, not only from different genres, but even different eras. They did not just smash together gothic, grunge, groove, and stoner vibes into their doom sound, but brilliantly wove them all together into their own unique sound. This is the difference between music that uses elements from here and there, as an attempt to make the music sound richer, and music influenced by different genres, fused into a unique sound that identifies a band, as is the case with Dying to Live.
Alice Gawlinski‘s voice feels like it was made for doom metal. However, it is not only the rone of her voice that makes the vocals stand out. The emotions and feelings that she reflected by her vocals make the album go even further, especially with the perfectly timed screams that add even more impact.
Dying to Live explores themes of transformation, suffering, and the eternal struggle between darkness and light. With inspiration from Welsh folklore and the depths of the human psyche, the album takes listeners on a journey through a world of ancient spirits and inner demons, told through brilliant storytelling. All of the elements come together to reflect the depth of emotion and concept in the album, and the music carries these themes to the ears and minds of the listener perfectly.
If you gave this album to someone who knew nothing about Mothertomb, they would never guess it was a debut. Dying to Live brilliantly fuses diverse influences and powerful vocals to create a unique doom metal masterpiece.
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Night walks – great background music for the creatures of the night
Sitting in Nature – great themes to sit with in nature
Thinking in bed – Provides companionship after a long day
Working at office – especially when you want to silence your dumb co-worker
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