Aiwaz is a relatively new entity comprised of Wheel vocalist Arkadius Kurek and multi-instrumentalist Timo Maischatz, who together have set out to create contemplative and compelling doom metal. Darrkh... It Is! may be oddly titled but is full of achingly beautiful melodies, leaden riffs and hauntingly plaintive vocals. It sounded familiar the first time I listened due to Kurek's vocals, which are distinctive and comparisons with Wheel are inevitable, but where that act is more traditional doom, Aiwaz brings a lot of introspection and melancholy to their songwriting. Darrkh... It Is! sucks me in every time it is on as the songwriting has amazing depth and balance. It is sad and yet hopeful at the same time and tracks like "The Ghost That Once Was I" and "When Judas Spins the Wheel" make me stop what I'm doing and listen, something very few songs do these days. If there's a weakness in the album it is that some of the riffs seem to show more than once, making a few songs a little repetitive, but this is a very minor issue. Aiwaz have released a mature and complete album of beautiful, epic doom that fans of Solitude Aeturnus, While Heaven Wept, Wheel and even dark prog bands like Marillion should be checking out as soon as possible.