|
|
|
Novembers Doom
|
The Pale Haunt Departure
The End Records
Release: 3/08/2005
 |
|
Rated:
Review by:
Morley Seaver
|
|
|
This is the Chicago-based, metal merchants, Novembers
Doom's fifth full-length record. They play a doom-metal style
that is slow but not plodding. Self-assured not lethargic.
Band members have come and gone with regularity since the
band began in 1989 with the exception of vocalist and founder
Paul Kuhr. Currently, it includes Kuhr, guitarists Vito Marchese
and Larry Roberts, bassist Mike LeGros, and drummer Joe
Nunez.
Pounding drums precede a stab of guitar riffage that leads off
the first cut and title track, "The Pale Haunt Departure." The
growling vocals of Kuhr almost send you scurrying for cover,
and the guitars hit you like a wall of barbed wire.
"Swallowed by the Sun" has Kuhr singing some lines of each
verse which by mixing it up, gives the song a lot of depth,
aided by the acoustic guitar at the end. Despair reigns in this
song with the despondent chorus.
"Autumn Reflection" has Kuhr singing even more and some
almost-regal but solid as rock riffing. "In the Absence of
Grace" gives us acoustic passages, which transform the song
into an epic journey.
The guitars are turned up for "The Dead Leaf Echo," carnage of
a murderous kind. "Through a Child's Eyes" features some
children's voices in the background that are almost chilling in a
way, set against the doom-laden backdrop. The vocals are
commanding as the melody lines veer in strange
directions.
The artwork for the record is spectacular as it so aptly takes
the music and puts it on canvas.
This is a tremendous record that stands up amongst their
contemporaries. They are heavy and the vocals are brutal, but
the package gives comparison to The Thing from the Fantastic
Four. The intelligence still lurks within ole Ben Grimm even
though he's imprisoned in his behemoth-like build. Compare
this to The Hulk where there is no human left within. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
