The three-and-a-half-minute “Coven Vespers” is the first single to come from Tar Pit‘s new album, Scrying the Angel Gate, and I thought it was going to be streaming yesterday but can’t find it. Nonetheless, it’s a banger, and with an Aug. 1 release impending, it stands to reason why the band sound like they’re in such a to throw elbows. It’s their second LP overall, first since 2018, and has a couple Oregonny guest appearances as it comes across primed to start a cult of the band’s own. Tar Pit align themselves with a fictitious entity, the Eldritch Doom Syndicate, and that’s all good fun, but if you played me “Coven Vespers” and showed me a picture of Southern Californian wilds, I’d probably call it desert rock. Sounds like it’d be mad live, and I think that’s on purpose.

Clearly there’s a darker ideology at work, but in terms of style, Scrying the Angel Gate has more flexibility and dynamic than it seems to want to appear. I don’t know about a battle for all-caps ‘doom metal immortality’ or anything like that, but it’s all part of an aesthetic preach, and it seems like good fun.

Here’s news from the PR wire:

Tar Pit – Scrying the Angel Gate

Eldritch doom from the dark woods of Portland, Oregon

Sophomore album “Scrying the Angel Gate” out August 1st, 2025 on Transylvanian Recordings

Music video for first single “Coven Vespers” out July 14th

From within the entrails of the eviscerated elder gods bubbles up the true ELDRITCH DOOM of TAR PIT. Vocalist Don Gonzalo, in foul alliance with guitarists Papa Stefano and Poncho Kid, bassist Old Saint John (also of PURIFICATION) and drummer Mack The Professional, summons songs of lament and occult worship.

Since their resurrection in 2017, TAR PIT have cut an enduring path through the Portland, Oregon heavy music scene, playing with international touring acts such as WEEDEATER, TRUCKFIGHTERS, MOTHERSHIP and GOYA. TAR PIT released their first demo in 2017, followed shortly thereafter by their debut album TOMB OF DOOM in 2018, and after a lengthy sojourn in the abyss, return even more powerful with their second full length SCRYING THE ANGEL GATE, out on TRANSYLVANIAN RECORDINGS this summer.

While firmly rooted in the early doom sound of bands like CANDLEMASS, PENTAGRAM, TROUBLE, and the almighty BLACK SABBATH, TAR PIT draws influence from across the musical spectrum, from slowcore to Afro-Cuban jazz (spot the clave rhythm in the title track), to create a more nuanced and dynamic sound. SCRYING THE ANGEL GATE solidifies TAR PIT’s place as one of the region’s most finely tuned purveyors of traditional doom metal, coupling punishing riffs with moments of beauty and foreboding.

Featuring vocal contributions from Fuzz (R.I.P.) and Paul H (LIVSSYKE) and mastered by the one and only THOMAS ANDREW DOYLE (TAD, BROTHERS OF THE SONIC CLOTH) at Ape Witch Studios. SCRYING THE ANGEL GATE is only the opening salvo in TAR PIT’s battle to summon DOOM METAL IMMORTALITY.

Tar Pit – Scrying the Angel Gate

Album out August 1st, 2025
Transylvanian Recordings
Digital, Vinyl (CD & Cassette TBA)
Portland, Oregon
FFO: Candlemass, Pentagram, Electric Wizard, Cathedral

Tracklist:
1. Dagon, Dark Lord Dwelling Beneath (Parts I-III) (10:15)
2. Coven Vespers (3:31)
3. Jubilee (4:55)
4. Blue Light Cemetery (8:10)
5. Blessed King of Longing (5:36)
6. Scrying the Angel Gate (8:49)

Tar Pit is:
Don Gonzalo – Vocals
Papa Stefano – Guitar
Poncho Kid – Guitar
Old Saint John – Bass
Mack The Professional – Drums

https://eldritchdoomsyndicate.com/
https://linktr.ee/tarpitpdx
https://tarpitdoom.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/tarpitpdx/
https://www.facebook.com/tarpitdoom

http://www.transylvaniantapes.bandcamp.com
http://www.instagam.com/transylvanianrecordings
http://www.facebook.com/TransylvanianRecordings

Tags: Oregon, Portland, Scrying the Angel Gate, Tar Pit, Tar Pit Scrying the Angel Gate, Transylvanian Recordings

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 15th, 2025 at 11:12 am and is filed under Whathaveyou. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.