Release date: Out now!

Chicago’s Professor Emeritus makes a powerful comeback with their second full-length album, A Land Long Gone. This release dives even deeper into their signature blend of epic doom and traditional metal. Formed in 2010, the band features Esteban Julian Pena on vocals, Tyler Antram and Lee Smith on guitar, Jose Salazar on bass, and Chris Avgerin on drums.

Review

A Corpse’s Dream creeps into your mind with some haunting riffage to start things off. In slides into a slow weaving section like a serpent hunting for some prey. Bass chugs before the band strikes with some crushing metal sounds that grate the skin of your bones. Throughout it comes at you like an overwhelming giant making its way through the dark. The vocals are velvety and latch on the twisting riffs with no effort at all. The lead work snakes through the thick of it all adding some extra interest. But then the breakdown of just bass twangs feels dirty and so grimy it makes you shiver. The slow slog of walking pace drumming and riffs really gets you into the music. By the last part of the track you feel like your flying on the backs of a deadly swarm before we are treated to rhythmically charged section of drum rolls and a loving vocal harmony to end.

Zosimos welcomes us with a repeating a rolling tom and bass pattern. Topping this is an exotic semi acoustic riff that echoes in either speaker making us feel like we are in a far away desert land.It just makes me want to close my eyes for a moment.But then we are hit with a dum-deh-deh-deh, dum style rhythm guitar riff combined with a flowing drum beat that uses the ride to keep things trickling along.I just how everything moves a along in such a fluid way.Its heavy and really crawls under your skin! Estebans vocals are so rich and warm they blend perfectly with the music. When the main riff appears at moments it really does feel like you are riding across a desert and when it drops down to a lower register it really does glisten in the hot rays of the sun. The breakdown where things slow down to a simple 4/4 beat and repeating phrase is a nice touch before the beautiful harmonies comes in. We return to some familiar ideas that were experienced earlier in the song before a majestic harmony and vocal play takes us out. I must say I am throughly enjoying this a lot (slight sumerlands vibes) and can not wait to see what the rest of the album has in store!

Passage rumbles in like thunder! Its guitar riffs keep pretty much steady throughout only changing at the end of phrases. Yet while some of the riffs are more simple here they still pack power. Sometimes you get just locked in feel the riff and that is what your getting in here. However over time things start to change up. There is a bright and uplifting repeating riff for instance playing as background a warm solo section. However my favourite part has got to be where it suddenly picks up and your plunged into an epic harmonised lead section and that is where you truly feel it. The pace and thunder continues a bit longer before the track comes to an end.

Pragmatic Occlusion calls for swords to be raised high to summon the gods. Get ready for a slow and steady trudge through the thick snow and dark winds of evil riffage. It transitions back and fourth between deep menacing chugging and harmonised guitar work that feels like its digging deep. The song really does feel emotive through the bass, guitars and especially the vocal work. This is one of those songs that at moments could get you locked in a trance. But then there are also moments where your mind may drift through the clouds with the heartfelt notes that sing out from the guitars.A great example of this is the soft and gentle solo section. I love how the song throughout changes from this dark, menacing beast to something completely opposite.

Defeater roars into action with thunderous chords and sizzling riffs.Things move forward with sort of a sway and I can easily imagine people dancing to this. Usually its headbanging or fist pumping but as it moves at a steady pace you probably could jig about a bit. Either way like tracks before its heavy and full of strength which I think the band do really well. Theres some great little harmonised melodies injected in the right places and you can hear the passion in the vocal performance. I think overall it is one of those more steady tracks on the album that helps to bring balance rather then everything being fill speed all the time.

Hubris is a refreshing shift in an album charged with intensity. This song takes a massive step back, allowing space to breathe, with an atmosphere that feels open and weightless. Lee and Tyler weave delicate, repeating acoustic guitar melodies that effortlessly dance into your mind, while rich, full-bodied chords strum and carry you along, like drifting on a sparkling, shimmering river. The steady drums and deep bass notes provide a grounding rhythm, enhancing the song’s effortless flow.

Esteban’s vocals masterfully employ dynamic variation, drawing you further into the music, encouraging you to lose yourself completely. As the song unfolds, it gradually builds momentum, culminating in a magnificent lead section. The solo spirals and sings, while the drumming and bass intricately weave and roll beneath it. Heavy chords return with commanding presence, adding weight to the solo, which ignites and flourishes in brilliant fashion. The moment that follows feels like the peak—every instrument surging at full intensity, every lyric delivered with passion and vibrancy. Then, with poetic symmetry, the song circles back to a solitary acoustic melody, bringing everything to a satisfying resolution. For me, this is one of the standout tracks on the album so far!

Conundrum is next up and it does not mess around! Unlike quite a lot of tracks on this record, Conundrum has all the pace the galloping and snarling sounds you could want. Straight away the dark, galloping guitar riffs ride into your ears ready to rattle the eardrums. Its continues making its way through the shroud before the light is found. It breaks down to acoustic guitars and soft vocals for a brief moment before the some mighty guitar chords slide back in for what i beleive is the bridge and chorus sections. A short little solo section adds some excitement to this headbanger then the crushing galloping rhythms come back in. The chorus returns with its swaying feel adding in some lingering background vocals towards the end.

“Kalopsia Caves” serves as a powerful and poignant closer to the album, opening with long, drawn-out notes that hang in the air before the sheer weight of monstrous guitars presses down like a slow-moving avalanche. The track drags you forward with deliberate, beefy rhythms, setting a heavy pace that eventually gives way to open, ringing chords and a more vocal-centric verse structure. In contrast to earlier tracks, “Kalopsia Caves” feels more spacious and emotionally nuanced. The restraint in arrangement allows the music to breathe, drawing the listener deeper into its textures. This subtle shift from sheer heaviness to a more meditative, melodic space is both refreshing and impactful. A luminous acoustic section emerges midway; a warm, delicate interlude that injects beauty and vulnerability into the song, enriching its emotional depth.

But the calm doesn’t last. The band erupts once more into a final, cataclysmic burst—demonic guitar and bass chugs collide with soul-searching vocals for a finale that feels both feral and cathartic. As the chaos fades, a lonesome, eerie guitar line closes the track, leaving a ghostly echo in its wake.Despite its nine-minute runtime, “Kalopsia Caves” vanishes in what feels like an instant; a testament to its immersive and dynamic storytelling.

Conclusion

This album is a masterclass in sonic storytelling, weaving together crushing heaviness, intricate harmonies, and moments of breathtaking beauty. Across its runtime, the band effortlessly balances sheer force with poignant atmosphere, delivering tracks that grip you tightly and refuse to let go. Each song contributes a unique texture, from the thunderous charge of “Defeater” to the hypnotic elegance of “Hubris,” culminating in the grand, emotive finale of “Kalopsia Caves.”

What makes this record shine is its ability to take listeners on a journey, one that oscillates between raw aggression and delicate, almost ethereal moments. Whether it’s the serpentine riffage, the soaring melodies, or the deeply resonant vocal work, there’s an undeniable depth to this album that makes it more than just a collection of songs; it’s an experience. As the last echoes fade, you’re left with a lasting impression; one of power, emotion, and artistry that lingers long after the final note.

TheNwothm Score: 9/10

Links

Bandcamp: https://professoremeritus.bandcamp.com/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ProfessorEmeritusLives

Website:https://professoremerit.us/

No Remorse Records: https://www.noremorse.gr/products/professor-emeritus-take-me-gallows-cd