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#FOR FANS OF: Death Doom |
Clouds shouldn’t need any introduction, as they’ve been one of the more
productive Doom Metal bands, regularly unleashing albums every two years
ever since their founding in 2013. I was thrilled to hear about their
work on new material, and it has been a great ride to partake on.
A
strumming guitar melody greets me in a folk like way. A fragile voice
speaks of not being able to guide you, leaving you lost in the
darkness. As the vocals kick in, it’s in a raw fashion. I almost feel
like Daniel is standing right before me. This track is a perfect opening
example for how great the diversity of this album is. A violin plays a
slow, lamenting melody over the growly speech. There’s even a section of
heavy guitar, which in a strange way doesn’t seem out of place at all
Following
the same recipe, “Empty Hearts” starts out as a folk melody with only
guitar and voice. The vocals seem fragile, sinister and naked. After a
few minutes though, it takes a turn for a doomy side. the viollin takes
more room, and we are once again drenched in the pitch black void that
is... The heavy guitar drapes the piece in a melancholic veil, without
sacrificing any of the brutality of the vocals.
A piano
is starting off “Images And Memories”, slowly dragging its notes in a
spray of misty echoes. The soft vocals whisper over a soft synth sound,
along with a violin weeping. The vibrato in (vocalists) voice makes the
song gain another level of emotions. A punching guitar riff is
introduced after a few minutes, and the vocals are replaced by a brutal
series of low pitched growls. It’s amazing how well the song progresses
so harmonically, it’s almost like a living organism just breathing
freely. Once again a short guitar solo finds its place, without ever
seeming out of style.
“Above The Sea” has another piano
intro. This one is a bit more uplifting than the other one. Slow paced,
it consists of a voice, subtle piano notes and that violin. As the
riffs start, the screams return in force. Vast, dragged out howls
accompanies the lenthy guitar notes. There’s room for a short intermezzo
here, serving as a gentle resting spot about half way through the
album. The rest is filled with a barrage of distorted guitar, menacing
growls, and that haunting piano melody to remind you of where you are:
In the domain of Clouds.
A gentle guitar strums”A
Sailor Waves Goodbye” into life. (Vocalists) soothing and calm voice
tells a tale of suffering and pain. As the song progresses, a Death
Metal like riff is giving it more energy, and really makes it stand out
from the rest. After that, it becomes something more. A saturated mix of
violin, brutal growls and prolonged riffs.
After an
ominious and brief guitar intro, a fog horn like violin is playing. “A
Fathers Death” lays, in a similar fashion as the previous track, subtle
vocals over a piano backdrop. The quick fadeout of distorted guitar and
violin surprises me, and leave me in awe as the mood is altered to
represent a brittle and fragile aspect of this band. A true master in
diversity. The heavier side of this track doesn’t hold anything back
either. (Vocalist) drags his growls out to drape the slow riffs in
another layer of depressive mood. there’s another section of spoken word
accompaniedf by a piano, and all these little instances lets the
listener breathe for a few moments during the span of the album. I
welcome these small moments of calm before the storms, and feel they
communicate another layer of emotions through the music.
“The
End of Hope” starts out a bit brighter than the others, but at a bit
slower pace. The clean singing is emotive, sincere and well mixed with
the guitar and drums. As the growly vocals begins, a flute plays in the
background, a welcome change of perspective. An electric guitar solo
also finds its place, but somehow they manage to weave it in without
compromising the nature of this album; a true and honest tribute to
feelings of despair and loneliness.
There’s a lot of
genial moments in the album. I was surprised about the mix of heavy
guitar, growls and violin at first, but then I came to remember how
great this rare occurrence has worked in the past. The clean parts are
equally great in the way they let me get close and personal with a
person who can utter such brutal and blood curdling screams of agony.
The overall result of 'Durere' seems well thought out, diverse, polished
and epic. Epic in the way an unusual element like heavy guitar works
with this genre of music, epic in the sorrow envisioned in the lyrics.
I’ve always enjoyed the few acts of doom metal which incorporates violin
into their soundscape, and now I’ve found another album to thoroughly
enjoy over the years. Thank you, Clouds. (Ole Grung)