De Profundis - A Bleak Reflection [CD 2010]

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DE PROFUNDIS - A Bleak Reflection CD (KR007CD)

KR007CD.jpg


1. The Ephemeral Burden 02:22
2. Ablaze in Autumn's Fire 11:33
3. Nocturnal Splendour 08:15
4. Cease to Be 09:39
5. Crimson Black Bleeding 09:39
6. Cold is the Grave 10:17
7. Longing 05:50
8. The Mourner 11:28

Length: 69:03

Listen to 'Nocturnal Splendour' here:


http://www.deprofundistheband.com
http://myspace.com/deprofundisuk
http://www.facebook.com/pages/De-Profundis/123797866801
http://www.last.fm/music/De Profundis
http://www.youtube.com/user/DeProfundisOfficial

"Now this is something quite pleasant - in the gloomiest, most unpleasant sense of the word, of course. De Profundis have shared a stage with Iron Maiden, and, although "A Bleak Reflection" is far closer to the likes of Swallow the Sun and Katatonia, its almost addictive, doomy resonance promises adulation from metal fans of all varieties". (Terrorizer)

"With "A Bleak Reflection", the band have again avoided fitting easily into any pigeonhole... Melodic, heavy and strangely tranquil, even when Craig Land's superb guttural vocals are roaring from the speakers. This isn't doom in the spirit-crushing sense; rather, the album is imbued with an elegiac, melancholy atmosphere which is paradoxically both soothing and metallic. The black metal influences which were detectable on "Beyond Redemption" also crop up all over "A Bleak Reflection", notably on 'Nocturnal Splendour' and the superb, epic "Ablaze in Autumn's Fire"... A key feature of this album is the seamless flow and ebb of the music, even the use of blastbeats followed by a melodic solo on 'Cold is the Grave' enhancing, rather than disturbing, the carefully built-up atmosphere... [This album is] a major step forward from a first-class band." (Zero Tolerance)
 
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Some reviews:

Terrorizer , 8/10
Zero Tolerance, 4,5/6
Decibel Magazine, 8/10

Exclaim.ca, s/v http://exclaim.ca/musicreviews/gener...846&fid1=44752
Mortemzine.net, s/v http://www.mortemzine.net/show.php?id=2019
Necroslaughter.tk, 5/6 http://necroslaughter.tk/2010/02/de-...ak-reflection/
Estmetal.ee, 7,5/10 http://www.estmetal.ee/2010/01/de-pr...flection-2010/
Lechantdugrillon.fr, s/v http://www.lechantdugrillon.fr/Chron...eflection.html
Metalchroniques.fr, 8/10 http://www.metalchroniques.fr/guppy/...lng=fr&pg=3572
Progressiveways.com, 8/10 http://www.progressivewaves.com/frmc...px?pro_id=5332
Metal.de, 8/10 http://www.metal.de/cdreviews.php4?was=review&id=14065
Metalnews.de, 6/7 http://www.metalnews.de/?metalid=05&...show&cdid=4337
Kronosmortus.hu, 8/10 http://kronosmortus.hu/node/22045
Passzio.hu, 7/10 http://www.passzio.hu/modules.php?na...icle&sid=19348
Hardsounds.it, 77/100 http://www.hardsounds.it/PUBLIC/recensione.php?id=5832
Metal.it, 7,5/10 http://www.metal.it/album.aspx/11785/9740/
Metalitalia.com, 7,5/10 http://www.metalitalia.com/cds/view.php?cd_pk=8421
Metallized.it, 75/100 http://www.metallized.it/recensione.php?id=3468
Undergroundzine, 82/100 http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?f...ogId=530134708
Ondalternativa.it, 4/5 http://www.ondalternativa.it/modules...ontent&id=3862
Zwaremetalen.com, 76/100 http://www.zwaremetalen.com/recensie/15027/
Metalcentre.com, 9/10 http://www.metalcentre.com/webzine.p...=3857&lang=eng
Ice-vajal.com, 8/10 http://www.ice-vajal.com/d/CD/deprofundis.htm
 
New review - 90/100:

DE PROFUNDIS “A Bleak Reflection” 2010 CD, Kolony Records

Hm, I see this
release have big attention, as was released in many countries if I do not
mistake. The band is young (more-less, just 5 years old) and this is second
album of theirs, and musicians aren’t known persons etc… but music on this
album is similar just like this is project of some well-known and matured
musicians! I listen to “A Bleak Reflection” some times and get the point
that musicians have open minds as for music, and they put all their ideas to
this album I suppose. And the ideas are fucking great! I could say this is
some kind of progressive dark metal, and I think it’d be right decision, but
I should say what the musical styles they also used over here.
Well, look, you’ll hear progressive tunes in their rhythm-section and guitar
parts, those parts will remind you some music similar to heavy and death
metal, then add slow, obscure and full of despair doom metal tunes, and some
cutting cold black metal parts, did you get just approx vision of their
music? Yes, you are right, this is unique progressive doom/death/black metal
band, with great ideas, interesting and deep music and as a whole with great
production and producing.
Beside of those pressing and heavy tunes you’ll be also listen to some light
parts, with beautiful guitar solos and unless dark atmosphere.
This album will press your mind by its huge and tight music and dark
atmosphere, also your mind will be poisoned by band’s negativity and you’ll
understand that you are alone and there are no one who will help you escape
from your empty life… Only dark thought bring this music, and will be
excellent gift for fans of dark and just memorable (even with some fresh
ideas) depressive music. I was impressed, and DE PROFUNDIS just prove us
that there in United Kingdom are still existing unknown but very promising
bands!
 
Decibel Magazine said:
Decibel Magazine, 8/10
Click to expand...

Faith divides us—doom unites us
In a way, De Profundis came up in the wrong decade. In the ’90s, they would have fit right in with the Peaceville Three. Their brand of doom metal is very melodic, very English—and very unfashionable. The doom du jour is funeral, drone, sludge and death doom. That stuff revels in the necro—nothing wrong with that. Necro ist Krieg. De Profundis, however, sind nicht Krieg. Fenriz will not endorse them, and Internet warriors will not pre-order their vinyl. Their loss!
In a way, De Profundis came up in the right decade. Forming in 2005, they’ve had the benefit of hindsight. Not only have they mastered the Peaceville Three vibe, they’ve also studied death and black metal. They do that “half time with helicoptering kick drums” thing that Morbid Angel and Nile do so well. They can drop a blast beat if need be. Pinning everything together is fretless bass, which naturally evokes Steve DiGiorgio. This record has the organic feel of Individual Thought Patterns, but with a much wider palette.
These are all ingredients, though. The real magic is in their combination. Melodies twist and rub against each other; sometimes they embrace, but at other times they grapple. Then they disappear down holes of deep riffing, only to re-emerge lusher than before, layered with clean tones and hushed vocals. Like the best dark chocolate, the taste is bittersweet. Unlike so much of modern doom, there’s light, however flickering, at the end of the tunnel. (Cosmo Lee)
 
'A Bleak Reflection' rated 11/13 on Turkish webzine 'Bira':

Basit düzenlemeler, yaratıcılıktan yoksun rifler, melodiler… İnternetin gelişimi ile o kadar grup duyulmaya başlandı ki, arasından iyileri seçip çıkarmak gerçekten zorlaşmaya başladı. Yerlisi, yabancısı; eline aletini alan borusunu öttürmeye çalışıp müzisyenim diye caka satmakta.

Yaratıcılık dediğimde 2 aydır aklıma De Profundis gelmekte ve De Profundis vasıtasıyla basçı Arran McSporran’ın büyülü parmakları yüreğimi titretmekte. Uzun zamandır bu kadar gözüme batan bir müzisyen (Ki bu bir basçı. Genel itibariyle geri planda olan bir enstrümanın sahibi) olmamıştı. Klasik ritimlerden, bilinen kalıplardan uzak duran, kendi tarzını 5 telli perdesiz bas gitarı ile notalara döken bu adam adeta parmaklarıyla konuşmakta, şarkıyı söylemekte.

Kısa bir ek bilgi olarak geçmek gerekirse De Profundis, Kitab-ı Mukaddes'in. 130. ayetine verilen genel bir isimdir. Tanrı'ya merhamet için yalvarma, ağlama gibi öğeleri içerir.
Kitab-ı Mukaddes’in bizde bilinen adı ile İncil olduğunu da belirtmek gerek.

2005 yılında Londra'da kurulan grubun 2007 çıkışlı ilk albümü Beyond Redemption'ın ardından ikinci albümü olmakta A Bleak Reflection. Albümü İtalyan firma Kolony Records dağıtıyor.
Çalışı 78 dakika gibi bir albüm için oldukça uzun bir süre ve bu süreye yalnızca 8 şarkı ile ulaşılmış. Buradan da anlaşılacağı gibi eserler uzun soluklu.
1 numarada yer alan The Ephemeral Burden her ne kadar girizgahvari bir havada çalışma olsa da 3:26’lık süresiyle buna girizgah denmeyi mümkün kılmamakta. Albümün geri kalanında kullanılmayan kemanlar, piyano gibi farklı enstrümanlar ile icra edilmiş ve albümün ön hazırlığını çok iyi yapmış.

De Profundis’in genel yapısına gelecek olursak, doom/death icra etmelerine rağmen bilinen doom/death ağır temposundan uzak kalınıp, orta tempolu ve hızlı şarkılar ile zaman zaman progresif tavır ortaya konmuş durumda. Melodik ve sert kavramları birbirine kavuşturup ortaya ciddi anlamda başarılı eserler çıkarılıyor. Vokalist Craig Land’in hırıltılı vokali üst düzey olmasa da rahatsız edici bir tınısı olmadığı için rahatlıkla dinlenebiliyor. Ayrıca albümdeki temiz vokaller de kendisi tarafından yapılmakta ve geri vokal kullanılmıyor. Davulcu Nick Tingle progresif yapıya gerçekten çok iyi uyum sağlayan geçiş ve ritimlerle müziği bir kademe üste taşımakta.

Türe kendini uzak hissedenlerin dahi dinleyebileceği kadar başarılı bulduğum A Bleak Reflection bir süredir başucu eserlerimden biri; uzunca bir süre de öyle kalacak görünüyor.
Kafa yormayan, orijinal bir şeyler dinlemek istiyorsanız De Profundis sizi buna davet ediyor.

Link:
http://www.bira.gen.tr/bira.asp?ID=21651
 
New review online: 90/100 on Lordsofmetal.nl!

Two years ago we received a good-looking promo package from the band De Profundis, hailing from Great Britain. Their debut album ‘Beyond Redemption’ was self-released, but the music was so amazing that I predicted that the successor would surely see the light of day, supported by a label. And so it happened: in November the London residing band signed a contract with Kolony Records and ‘A Bleak Reflection’ is launched at the world.

Many things happened in the meantime and the praiseworthy do-it-yourself mentality of these guys sometimes achieved surprising results. Examples? They toured the U.K. with French band Misanthrope and a distribution deal with Holy Records came out of this. Another result is that ‘A Bleak Reflection’ could be recorded with French producer Fernando Pereira Lopes (he also did the latest Misanthrope record). For the mastering they turned to Tim Turan again, as with the debut. Another amazing feat: De Profundis played in India in February 2009 supporting Iron Maiden. Next came a deal with Sony BMG and the debut was distributed in India. By now they hit the stages even in Romania and Portugal.

De Profundis was founded in November 2005 by vocalist Craig Land and guitarist Roman Subbotin. Also second guitar player Shoi Sen is a permanent member, but the rhythm section always suffered with many changes. This album is recorded with Arran McSporran on bass and Nick Tingle behind the drums. ‘A Bleak Reflection’ has a melancholic doom nature, but death and black influences give it the right uppercut. Seventy minutes of magnificent death/doom metal it is with more than average technical intricacies. Especially fretless bass parts are mixed in the front, but there is also a wide range of melodious guitar solos, which serpentine through the lengthy compositions. ‘The Ephemerial Burden’ sneaks humbly into your room with piano, plucking guitars and violins. This loveliness is rudely disturbed from the heavy riffs of ‘Ablaze In Autumn’s Fire’ on. Craig Land has a low-pitched, gravel-throated growl, a bit reminiscent with Matt Lawson of The Prophecy, but there are no clean vocals except for some whisperings and dark spoken fragments. We do hear a scream-like variant, adding a semblance of black into the music, invigorated with pithy accelerations. The holy doom trinity of Yorkshire has had its influence, but De Profundis can be proud of an identity and sound of their own. The long songs brim with breaks with calm passages and guest musician Pippa Mason adds a few cello sounds (outro ‘The Mourner’). ‘Longing’ is an instrumental song in which even some classical and jazzy elements loom up. Surely ‘Cease To Be’ is of an incredible beauty and intensity. In despite of the complexity, a firm amount of brutality and roughness is maintained. Soon the band will embark on a short European tour with Ragnarok and Noctum. The undersigned will be present!

[review by Vera]

Link:
http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showreview.php?id=16307&lang=en
 
New review online: 8,5/10 on Rockfreaks.net!

Having albums like De Profundis' "A Bleak Reflection" and Triptykon's "Eparistera Daimones" to review is like a football manager having four forwards in goalscoring form: not something you wish to complain about it but it can cause a few headaches getting the problems sorted. These two recently issued albums having been crying out for review for ages, and I'm going to start with the sophomore album of Londoners De Profundis, a band I recently saw live for the first time at Infernal Damnation VII and whom impressed me mightily with their technically complex fusion of doom, black and death metal that night.

At 8 songs and 69 minutes, De Profundis produce protracted statements of intent with their music, weaving majestic intricately woven passages of slow Opeth-ian metal into packages topping 8 minutes on most occasions, all encasing a huge range of riffs and movements within each. Come the end of the closing track, 11-minute "The Mourner", you are guaranteed to feel a sense of pride at having lasted the journey, and quite possibly a sense of bewilderment at the passion and artistic craft that must've gone into the albums' making for what is bound to be very limited reward. I mentioned Confessor in reference to De Profundis in my live review and their staccato structures, in conjunction with Opeth's raw feel and dramatic song structures, and My Dying Bride's feeling of bleakness goes some way to describing tracks like "Ablaze In Autumn's Fire" and "Cold Is The Grave". Where lead guitars forge their own route, the bass is fingered in an unusually funky and apparent fashion and Craig Land bellows out his lungs De Profundis sound a band expertly crafted in this progressive extreme metal field, belying the fact this is only the band's second album.

Most of this album's procession is of a gentle, slow-mid paced one, following on from the introductory track, "The Ephemeral Burden", which for once feels connected to what follows and not just a piece of soft piano slapped before bludgeoning thrash/death metal riffs. "Nocturnal Splendour" is the band's moment to let loose and show they are no one trick pony, as the backbone of biting black and death riffs sits with greater accuracy with Land's hoarse vocals and yet which at all times feels laboriously constructed in comparison to most other bands within the genre. Land's tones, for the most part raw growls akin to Mikael Åkerfeldt’s are not initially a comfortable fit with the music as great that the growls are the progression overtones throughout could be better served with moments of clean vocals as well. Perhaps in my world-weary ways repeated listens have nullified this problem to the point where I feel they now play together happily, taking the atmosphere that bit further downwards into classic My Dying Bride territory, which is never a bad thing.

This really is a very good album and one that I'm pleased has come to my attention. To hone their craft further would only involve suggesting greater vocal variation and ever more divinely engaging songs, but in this instance De Profundis have left little room for improvement such is the perfectly weighted production job and genuine artistic endeavour in every detail of the record. If you're looking for a 'challenging' metal record of the year I think we've just found it in "A Bleak Reflection".

[review by EW]

Link:
http://www.rockfreaks.net/index.php?page=albumreviews&id=2815
 
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