Thou's third full-length album, Summit, showcases a unique blend of doom metal, blackened sludge, and drone. The album starts with an unexpected blastbeat that fits perfectly with the thunderous droning chords. Even when the band slows down, there's always something meaty to hold onto, whether it's an evocative riff, dragged-slowly-across-the-coals vocals, or a beautiful moment stretched to its logical breaking point. Thou masterfully averts the unpleasantness that bad doom metal can bring, making Summit an album that tests the listener but always delivers.