DOOM GONG: Dream Behemoth [Album Review]

DOOM GONG
Dream Behemoth
Romanus Records [2023/2026]

“A groove-locked psych record where jazz sway does the steering and the band never loses the plot.”

Album Overview: DOOM GONG formed in Louisville, Kentucky in 2022 as a seven-member project rooted in collective writing and a shared musical language. Their releases came fast and with purpose, feeling connected rather than scattered. Constant touring and immersive live shows quickly helped the band earn trust within the modern psychedelic underground.

Dream Behemoth sits at the center of DOOM GONG’s catalog, bridging the open-ended exploration of their debut with the heavier psychedelic rock direction that follows. The album leans into jazz-fusion-driven psych, built on groove, patience, and tight ensemble work. Instead of stretching every idea to its limit, the band lets themes develop through motion and interplay, giving the record a strong sense of forward pull.

Musical Style: The record blends psychedelic rock with clear jazz fusion roots, led by roaming bass lines, rolling drums, and layered keys. Brass and synthesizers function as core structural voices rather than background color, while vocals stay restrained and textural. The arrangements favor group timing and balance, creating momentum instead of drifting atmosphere.

Evolution of Sound: Here, DOOM GONG fully commits to jazz fusion as the framework for their psychedelic identity. Groove, pacing, and band chemistry take priority, tightening the band’s approach without locking them into rigid forms. The album stops short of the heavier psych rock found on MEGAGONG, making Dream Behemoth a true transitional release that sharpens focus while widening the band’s range.

Artists with Similar Fire: There’s a strong link to King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s jazz-leaning side, especially the relaxed sway of Sketches of Brunswick East, where groove and melody drift together. That same sense of ease runs through DOOM GONG’s approach here. Mild High Club’s psychedelic pop warmth shows up in the soft-focus keys and unhurried pacing, while BADBADNOTGOOD’s group-first flow echoes in the band’s tight internal balance. Sunwatchers round out the connection, sharing a similar space where jazz fusion instincts meet exploratory psych, driven by rhythm, patience, and collective motion rather than flash.

Pivotal Tracks: “Memory Maze” captures the album’s core philosophy, locking rhythm and melody into a steady cycle that rewards close listening. The opener, “Dream Behemoth,” sets the tone early with a slow build and carefully stacked instrumentation. “The Shrouded Path” stretches close to seven minutes, letting rhythm and texture guide the track forward without excess. The closing “DOOM GONG II” brings everything together, with energetic sax and trumpet lines widening the sound and delivering a confident, ensemble-driven finale.

Lyrical Strength: Vocals on Dream Behemoth function as another instrument rather than the focal point. Lyrics feel woven into the arrangements, supporting mood and motion instead of steering the songs outright. This approach keeps attention on the group dynamic while adding subtle emotional shading throughout the record.

Final Groove: Dream Behemoth finds DOOM GONG tightening their grip without losing their sense of exploration. It’s a focused, groove-forward record that rewards repeat listens and highlights the band’s growing chemistry. As a midpoint between eras, it doesn’t shout for attention, but it quietly signals bigger things ahead, setting the stage for DOOM GONG to turn up the volume on last year’s MEGAGONG.

DOOM GONG REVIEW HISTORY
MEGAGONG (2025) / DOOM GONG (2024)

DOOM GONG LINKS
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Romanus Records