REVIEWS
ALBUM REVIEWS: Dying to Live (2026)
Dying to Live places #5 on the Doom Charts for July 2026!
"Michigan outfit MOTHERTOMB serve up a deliciously deadly debut in the form of “Dying to Live“: Dark, atmospheric ambience bleeds into cripplingly heavy riffs spearheaded by the powerful voice of Alice Gawlinski. Impressively oppressive!
~ Steve De Rique (Howls from The Hollows, Doomed & Stoned, Stoner HiVe) CLICK HERE
"With WINDHAND taking an absolute age releasing their next album then MOTHERTOMB are here to satisfy that craving but bringing their own unique take to the party and perhaps opening the door to a highly rewarding career that will no doubt stretch past the far reaches of the heavy underground scene. Dying To Live is an absolute delightfully heavy and thrilling record that will become one of the standout records to own and devour before the year is out."
-Steve Howe (Outlaws of the Sun) CLICK HERE
"What is already clear is that Mothertomb have built their first record around a paradox durable enough to hold it — and that the underground most likely to receive it is one that has always known how to find beauty in the cold."
-Alex De Borba (Atmostfear Entertainment) CLICK HERE
"Their debut album will be filed by some under the Doom label. For me, and hopefully others, it will defy such categorisation because the band’s sound, attitude, A-to-Z music influences, and cosmic weight of both birth and death simply cannot be contained in such a generic and lazy categorization. Dying To Live is simply a masterpiece of art, emotion, and energy, all working overtime to leave the listener with a beautiful experience of modern heavy."
-Sunil Singh (Metal Talk) CLICK HERE
"Mothertomb is a band that has made a huge impact on me, giving me a new appreciation for where doom metal is headed. This is a band to keep an eye on because I can only predict amazing things for them in the future. Dying To Live is definitely one of best debut albums of the year and stands out in a deep ocean of stoner rock releases of 2026."
-Mark "Yeti" Richard (Jam Yeti Music Blog) CLICK HERE
"If you like bands like Messa, Witchrot, or Jex Thoth, then this is a new band to dig in on."
-The Metal Crypt / CLICK HERE
"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."
-Reuel Way (Fem Metal) CLICK HERE
"Mothertomb may be Dying To Live but this debut kicks open their frozen tomb with some heavy occult psych doom"
-Matt Bladen (Musipedia of Metal) CLICK HERE
“The debut full-length from Nort h Michigan atmospheric doom four-piece Mothertomb, Dying to Live, brims with purpose from the three-minute mood-setting intro “The Summoning” onward."
JJ Koczan (The Obelisk) CLICK HERE
"I have no idea how many times I have played this album since its release. I had been eagerly waiting for it, convinced by the singles that something truly worthwhile was coming, and I was not disappointed in the slightest. If you have forty minutes to spare and feel like letting a riff carry you into another dimension, do not hesitate – put on „Dying to Live”. With a debut this strong, all that is left to do is wait for whatever Mothertomb comes up with next."
-Marek Oleksy (Sztuck Mix) CLICK HERE
SINGLE REVIEWS:
"Beware is an intriguing and superbly executed proposition from MOTHERTOMB which has me excited to hear more from their upcoming debut album in 2026. Excellent and Highly Recommended."
-Steve Howe, Outlaws of the Sun
Full review:
https://outlawsofthesun.blogspot.com/2025/11/mothertomb-beware-single-review.html
"As a debut, “Beware” is a statement. Dark, immersive, and heavy as hell, it shows Mothertomb has a clear vision and a natural groove. By the end, you’re left wanting more, and you know whatever comes next is going to hit just as hard.
-Michael D'Amato, Playgroundz Rocks
Full review:
www.playgroundz.rocks/playgroundz/blog/301/mothertomb---beware-single-review
"Their debut album is due for release sometime in 2026, and for now, this song anchors itself in that unsettling, occult aura, rooted in the muddiest doom metal. Its ominous atmosphere is all you need to discover one of the bands that could emerge as a new revelation in the coming years."
-Rubén Herrera, La Habitacion 235
"Mountain Hag is nothing short of a revelation with Mothertomb continuing their progression in perhaps becoming one of the best upcoming acts the underground scene currently needs right now."
-Steve Howe, Outlaws of the Sun
Full review: https://outlawsofthesun.blogspot.com/2026/01/mothertomb-mountain-hag-single-review.html
"Be sure to play "Mountain Hag" if you like a powerful witch on vocals, buzzing riffs and crazy tempo and metrum changes. These less than 10 minutes go by incredibly fast."
-Jess Gruz, Gruz Culture Propaganda
"Mothertomb crawl out of the mountain fog with "Mountain Hag", a doom-laden ritual where Sabbath-sized riffs meet prog-tinged menace and pure occult weight."
-Mel Lie, Sunday's Heavy Tunes
"Beware" and "Mountain Hag" have also been featured/covered on various online zines, playlists, and podcasts including the following: Doomed Nation, Progressive Rock Journal, Weedian, Stoner World Blog, Female Fronted Power, Monuments in Ruin (episode 303 & 304), La Capsule Stoner, TRAIL of SMOKE, and Sunday's Heavy Tunes.
Mothertomb is a proud member of the Midwest Doom Coalition (Michigan chapter).
