Discuss Reviews for "To Welcome the Fade"
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ShadowLioness
\m/ \m/
" To Welcome the fade" have move to a heavier direction than "The Knowing". Their new album have a surprinsingly good Opeth influences & more use of growls. Unlike Opeth the clean&growl vox interludes feels more fluid and also in the acoustic/electric guitar interludes . I do not put a 10-10 scoring because , I'm sure !!!!! that Novembers Doom could make a trancendental masterpiece album since MDB's Turn Loose the swans ,that shakes the Death/Doom metal scene. It's a matter of time , that ocurred.
My review 9.5-10
My review 9.5-10
FuSoYa
Lunarian
chupe666
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chupe666
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FrostGiant
Mr. Pibb > Dr. Pepper
chupe666
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xfer
I JERK OFF TO ARCTOPUS
From: metalcrypt.com
Melancholic, relaxing, depressing, melodic, aggressive... All adjectives that can be used to describe this latest album from Chicago doomsters Novembers Doom. This album catches my attention more than its excellent predecessor, "The Knowing", which says a lot. The album kicks off on a fast and aggressive song and there you begin a journey that'll make you go through just about every emotion (OK, maybe not happiness - this is doom after all
). From heavy, aggressive guitars with death-like but still understandable growls, to light acoustic passages with clean, "sad" vocals, you'll also be treated with mid-paced material and occasional female vocals (very well done soul-reaching vocals). I guess the overall release could be summed up as "beautiful music" (as un-metal as this may sound - hehe), I've rarely run into an album that is so effective at bringing out so many types of emotions.
The music is helped by a very good production which could hardly be better. Having heard a few of their previous albums, I can say the band have outdone themselves as musicians and songwriters, just one more proof that a band can evolve without resorting to gimmicks or going commercial. Being far from a doom metal expert, I won't venture into making any comparisons with other doom bands, although I have seen My Dying Bride mentioned here and there - but that's just hearsay. This album is definitely one of the top releases so far in 2002. Highly recommended - but I didn't need to say that, did I?
Melancholic, relaxing, depressing, melodic, aggressive... All adjectives that can be used to describe this latest album from Chicago doomsters Novembers Doom. This album catches my attention more than its excellent predecessor, "The Knowing", which says a lot. The album kicks off on a fast and aggressive song and there you begin a journey that'll make you go through just about every emotion (OK, maybe not happiness - this is doom after all
). From heavy, aggressive guitars with death-like but still understandable growls, to light acoustic passages with clean, "sad" vocals, you'll also be treated with mid-paced material and occasional female vocals (very well done soul-reaching vocals). I guess the overall release could be summed up as "beautiful music" (as un-metal as this may sound - hehe), I've rarely run into an album that is so effective at bringing out so many types of emotions.The music is helped by a very good production which could hardly be better. Having heard a few of their previous albums, I can say the band have outdone themselves as musicians and songwriters, just one more proof that a band can evolve without resorting to gimmicks or going commercial. Being far from a doom metal expert, I won't venture into making any comparisons with other doom bands, although I have seen My Dying Bride mentioned here and there - but that's just hearsay.
This album is definitely one of the top releases so far in 2002. Highly recommended - but I didn't need to say that, did I? Unlike the last album , this album is more mid-paced and rich use of acoustical guitars. Excellent production and more fluid interludes.
From: www.ancientspirit.de
Translated from German:
After I heard the CD 3 times I was sure that I can write a review about "To Welcome the fade". I strongly believed that NOVEMBERS DOOM hadn´t reached the quality of their previous album "The Knowing" and accordingly I wanted to judge the CD. But as I wanted to go to work I noticed" Hey, a little Moment: This album is yet great! And as I heard the CD 2 times again I noticed that it is genious! How was I astray! Somehow the songs remind me strongly of ANATHEMA's "The Silent Enigma", as well the vocals and musically, whereby also some MY DYING BRIDE and PARADISE LOST elements arise. But you also can notice the "American way of life" in the arrangements, because they are similar to the ones of MORGION! Sometimes there are also some
OPETH elements, for example in "The Spirit Seed". What I like most in the songs like "Not the Strong", "Lost in a Day" or "Torn" are the dreamy but also depressed moments, where the feelings of the musicians were offered! You notice that the guys of NOVEMBERS DOOM don´t limit themselves, but let their thoughts be free! Sadly they don´t have a deal here in Europe, where the purchase of "To Welcome the Fade" is a little bit difficult, but I think, that it is possible to get it in some well sorted mailorders.
SasH 10.5 out of 12 possible points!
The Review got also a "tip", which only outstanding albums get!
Translated from German:
After I heard the CD 3 times I was sure that I can write a review about "To Welcome the fade". I strongly believed that NOVEMBERS DOOM hadn´t reached the quality of their previous album "The Knowing" and accordingly I wanted to judge the CD. But as I wanted to go to work I noticed" Hey, a little Moment: This album is yet great! And as I heard the CD 2 times again I noticed that it is genious! How was I astray! Somehow the songs remind me strongly of ANATHEMA's "The Silent Enigma", as well the vocals and musically, whereby also some MY DYING BRIDE and PARADISE LOST elements arise. But you also can notice the "American way of life" in the arrangements, because they are similar to the ones of MORGION! Sometimes there are also some
OPETH elements, for example in "The Spirit Seed". What I like most in the songs like "Not the Strong", "Lost in a Day" or "Torn" are the dreamy but also depressed moments, where the feelings of the musicians were offered! You notice that the guys of NOVEMBERS DOOM don´t limit themselves, but let their thoughts be free! Sadly they don´t have a deal here in Europe, where the purchase of "To Welcome the Fade" is a little bit difficult, but I think, that it is possible to get it in some well sorted mailorders.
SasH 10.5 out of 12 possible points!
The Review got also a "tip", which only outstanding albums get!
The following review will be appearing in issue #20 of Unrestrained Magazine: www.unrestrainedmag.com
NOVEMBERS DOOM - _To Welcome the Fade (Dark Symphonies) - First off, this has to be one of the most depressing CDs I have heard in ages. The music, the lyrics and the entire vibe seeping out of Novembers Doom's latest effort 'To Welcome the Fade' is so emotionally heavy and draining at times. I am not one to get into lyrics, but these lyrics just hit you like a sledgehammer to the head. Along with the lyrics, the talented four-piece doom metal act led by lead singer/lyricist Paul Kuhr draws you in with their hypnotic musical arrangements and wonderful craftsmanship. The album is made up of a variety of styles, heavy set numbers and slow passages, that mesh together with ease. Tracks worthy of note would be "If Forever," "Within My Flesh," "Lost In a Day" and the disheartening closer "Dark Fields of Brilliance." An added bonus is the angelic vocals of Nora O'Connor sewn throughout the record, a complimenting voice going up against Kuhr's darkened bellows. This band has an incredible back catalog and they seem unstoppable right now. Of note, producer Neil Kernon (Nevermore, Cannibal Corpse) did a great job bringing out all the graceful texture that their music warrants. 'To Welcome the Fade' is the kind of sadness we should all embrace at one time or another this year. -8.5- ADRIAN BROMLEY
NOVEMBERS DOOM - _To Welcome the Fade (Dark Symphonies) - First off, this has to be one of the most depressing CDs I have heard in ages. The music, the lyrics and the entire vibe seeping out of Novembers Doom's latest effort 'To Welcome the Fade' is so emotionally heavy and draining at times. I am not one to get into lyrics, but these lyrics just hit you like a sledgehammer to the head. Along with the lyrics, the talented four-piece doom metal act led by lead singer/lyricist Paul Kuhr draws you in with their hypnotic musical arrangements and wonderful craftsmanship. The album is made up of a variety of styles, heavy set numbers and slow passages, that mesh together with ease. Tracks worthy of note would be "If Forever," "Within My Flesh," "Lost In a Day" and the disheartening closer "Dark Fields of Brilliance." An added bonus is the angelic vocals of Nora O'Connor sewn throughout the record, a complimenting voice going up against Kuhr's darkened bellows. This band has an incredible back catalog and they seem unstoppable right now. Of note, producer Neil Kernon (Nevermore, Cannibal Corpse) did a great job bringing out all the graceful texture that their music warrants. 'To Welcome the Fade' is the kind of sadness we should all embrace at one time or another this year. -8.5- ADRIAN BROMLEY
L'Édition Métallique - www.metalzine.com
November's Doom - To Welcome The Fade
By Roadkill
Novembers Doom is a Melodic Doom Metal band with already four albums released. « To Welcome The Fade » presents the essence of the chosen genre : a calm, moody and depressive music. Beginning with a heavy and catchy riff, typical Doom-style, this albums beginning hooked me on.
Things gets worse however. Bass playing is quickly withdrawn to the back, and drumming drowns in repetitiveness, being nearly absent on some songs. Its like it actually follows the deadly depressive patterns the music soon embark on. Lyrics are also depressive, presenting the artists own emotions and personal problems. Vocals are the biggest weakness though. Sounding a bit like Deicides Glen Benton, they just arent powerful or aggressive enough.
On the positive side of things, this album shines as a neat HDCD (high definition compact disk) Neil-Kernon-signed (Cannibal Corpse, Nevermore, Judas Priest, etc) production, a fact which gives it a perfect sound quality. Musical execution is also quite good.
« To Welcome The Fade » is a nice album, but not an excellent nor an original one. It however remains a good buy for Doom Metal fans. 7/10
November's Doom - To Welcome The Fade
By Roadkill
Novembers Doom is a Melodic Doom Metal band with already four albums released. « To Welcome The Fade » presents the essence of the chosen genre : a calm, moody and depressive music. Beginning with a heavy and catchy riff, typical Doom-style, this albums beginning hooked me on.
Things gets worse however. Bass playing is quickly withdrawn to the back, and drumming drowns in repetitiveness, being nearly absent on some songs. Its like it actually follows the deadly depressive patterns the music soon embark on. Lyrics are also depressive, presenting the artists own emotions and personal problems. Vocals are the biggest weakness though. Sounding a bit like Deicides Glen Benton, they just arent powerful or aggressive enough.
On the positive side of things, this album shines as a neat HDCD (high definition compact disk) Neil-Kernon-signed (Cannibal Corpse, Nevermore, Judas Priest, etc) production, a fact which gives it a perfect sound quality. Musical execution is also quite good.
« To Welcome The Fade » is a nice album, but not an excellent nor an original one. It however remains a good buy for Doom Metal fans. 7/10
FrostGiant
Mr. Pibb > Dr. Pepper
What kind of reviews are those? Not once did they compare you to MDB. They must not know what they're doing.
NvmbrsDoom5
Member
chupe666
You may enter up to 25 ch
This in-depth review appears at Rainbow's Flame Metal Domain http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Studios/2786/
Novembers Dooms latest release, entitled To Welcome the Fade should be made into a model of what doom metal with death vocals should sound like. TWtF is Novembers Dooms 6th release (Amid its Hollowed Mirth was re-released in 2000 after original publication in 1995) and what a release it is. The album creates a wonderful dark, brooding atmosphere, and mixes in the death vocals quite well, and not being a big fan of death vocals, that element was key. A breakout album in my opinion, this band is one of the rare American bands that has the ability to match and sometimes surpass what their European counterparts consitently put out on the market today.
The band, founded in 1988 by vocalist Paul Kuhr, blends many different influences in creating their unique sound. Mixing sounds from well-known British doom metal bands Anathema, My Dying Bride, and in some instances, Paradise Lost, Novembers Doom creats a very atmospheric type of sound, one which makes the listener feel a bit of sorrow and forlorn as Novembers Doom sings of matters that many of us have faced over time. The music, though not overly technical, though no doom metal really is, does its job and does it well. Perhaps the best part of the band is the guitarists, who along with the keyboards, are the main instruments in creating the sound Novembers Doom aims to create ,though not to take away from the bassist and drummer, who hold down the rhythm section very well. The vocals are really well done, and this is coming from someone who really is not into death vocals at all. To give some who are familiar with death metal vocals, Paul Kuhr has been compared to Mikael Akerfeldt, vocalist for the death metal band Opeth. Their similarities come in two distinct ways, one, they both growl in a very deep fashion, something most death metal vocalists do anyways, but what sets these two apart is the way they do their best in trying to make the lyrics understandable to the listener, something that doesnt happen very often in the world of death metal. Many times when death vocals are used the lyrics sound muffled and understanding them is a task. However, there are no problems with that type of vocal here on this album. Song wise, there really is no let down song on this album. Though they have no real long songs like Opeth, this actually may be a positive thing, because the album never has a moment where interest fades or wears away. The band does a nice job of keeping songs long enough to fulfill technical qualities, but short enough to where one does not lose interest of the songs. Novembers Doom even mixes in some clean vocals as well as female vocals to give the music a further dimension. Songs such as Not the Strong, Dark Fields for Brilliance, Broken, and finally Forever are some of the bands highlight songs, all combining excellent guitar work and keys to help in creating a beautifully atmospheric album though dont mistake me by thinking those are the only good songs, the whole album is excellent, those are just some of the songs that really stick out during a listen to the band. Broken is one of the songs where the female vocalist, Nora OConnor, comes in along with Paul Kuhrs clean vocals come in. The mixture is chilling with Kuhr almost talking in a foreboding way while OConnor contrasts his vocals with a more angelic approach. Mix this with the darkness of the music and you got yourself a killer song. Forever is a nice change of pace song, with Kuhr singing only with his clean vocals. Not the Strong is perhaps the hardest most fast paced song with crunching guitars through parts of the song, but this quickly moves into a more melodic sound as the chorus moves in. Dark Fields for Brilliance is also a nice switch in that it actually begins with clean vocals and uses parts of the chorus in death vocals, while other songs on the album did the opposite, death first then clean, if their were any on that particular song, later on in the album. Perhaps the only fault in the album is that it is probably best heard when in the mood for this type of music. For me, this album cannot be heard at all times, and perhaps will hit more much better when one is properly ready for what is too come, if not, the music may come off as boring, though it really is not. Finally I must not neglect mentioning the excellent production from Grammy award winning producer Neil Kernon (Flotsam and Jetsam, Queensryche among others). He does a brilliant job in making every instrument audible and clear during the listen, without sacrificing the overall sound and tightness of the band itself.
So all in all, this album is essential for anyone who like doom metal with the death metal vocals added on top. Opeth fans should really enjoy this album a good amount, as they are the band that comes to mind first when hearing this album. Even prog fans may appreciate the bands creation of wonderful atmospheres in the music. Musically excellent in what they try to accomplish, and lyrically very emotional and from the heart this album is one of the top doom/death metal albums for the year. Check this album out you will not be disappointed.
9.0/10 RICHARD SIMONS
(For what they do, they do it very well, and though I am not the biggest death metal fan, this album is one of the best I have heard in this genre.)
Novembers Dooms latest release, entitled To Welcome the Fade should be made into a model of what doom metal with death vocals should sound like. TWtF is Novembers Dooms 6th release (Amid its Hollowed Mirth was re-released in 2000 after original publication in 1995) and what a release it is. The album creates a wonderful dark, brooding atmosphere, and mixes in the death vocals quite well, and not being a big fan of death vocals, that element was key. A breakout album in my opinion, this band is one of the rare American bands that has the ability to match and sometimes surpass what their European counterparts consitently put out on the market today.
The band, founded in 1988 by vocalist Paul Kuhr, blends many different influences in creating their unique sound. Mixing sounds from well-known British doom metal bands Anathema, My Dying Bride, and in some instances, Paradise Lost, Novembers Doom creats a very atmospheric type of sound, one which makes the listener feel a bit of sorrow and forlorn as Novembers Doom sings of matters that many of us have faced over time. The music, though not overly technical, though no doom metal really is, does its job and does it well. Perhaps the best part of the band is the guitarists, who along with the keyboards, are the main instruments in creating the sound Novembers Doom aims to create ,though not to take away from the bassist and drummer, who hold down the rhythm section very well. The vocals are really well done, and this is coming from someone who really is not into death vocals at all. To give some who are familiar with death metal vocals, Paul Kuhr has been compared to Mikael Akerfeldt, vocalist for the death metal band Opeth. Their similarities come in two distinct ways, one, they both growl in a very deep fashion, something most death metal vocalists do anyways, but what sets these two apart is the way they do their best in trying to make the lyrics understandable to the listener, something that doesnt happen very often in the world of death metal. Many times when death vocals are used the lyrics sound muffled and understanding them is a task. However, there are no problems with that type of vocal here on this album. Song wise, there really is no let down song on this album. Though they have no real long songs like Opeth, this actually may be a positive thing, because the album never has a moment where interest fades or wears away. The band does a nice job of keeping songs long enough to fulfill technical qualities, but short enough to where one does not lose interest of the songs. Novembers Doom even mixes in some clean vocals as well as female vocals to give the music a further dimension. Songs such as Not the Strong, Dark Fields for Brilliance, Broken, and finally Forever are some of the bands highlight songs, all combining excellent guitar work and keys to help in creating a beautifully atmospheric album though dont mistake me by thinking those are the only good songs, the whole album is excellent, those are just some of the songs that really stick out during a listen to the band. Broken is one of the songs where the female vocalist, Nora OConnor, comes in along with Paul Kuhrs clean vocals come in. The mixture is chilling with Kuhr almost talking in a foreboding way while OConnor contrasts his vocals with a more angelic approach. Mix this with the darkness of the music and you got yourself a killer song. Forever is a nice change of pace song, with Kuhr singing only with his clean vocals. Not the Strong is perhaps the hardest most fast paced song with crunching guitars through parts of the song, but this quickly moves into a more melodic sound as the chorus moves in. Dark Fields for Brilliance is also a nice switch in that it actually begins with clean vocals and uses parts of the chorus in death vocals, while other songs on the album did the opposite, death first then clean, if their were any on that particular song, later on in the album. Perhaps the only fault in the album is that it is probably best heard when in the mood for this type of music. For me, this album cannot be heard at all times, and perhaps will hit more much better when one is properly ready for what is too come, if not, the music may come off as boring, though it really is not. Finally I must not neglect mentioning the excellent production from Grammy award winning producer Neil Kernon (Flotsam and Jetsam, Queensryche among others). He does a brilliant job in making every instrument audible and clear during the listen, without sacrificing the overall sound and tightness of the band itself.
So all in all, this album is essential for anyone who like doom metal with the death metal vocals added on top. Opeth fans should really enjoy this album a good amount, as they are the band that comes to mind first when hearing this album. Even prog fans may appreciate the bands creation of wonderful atmospheres in the music. Musically excellent in what they try to accomplish, and lyrically very emotional and from the heart this album is one of the top doom/death metal albums for the year. Check this album out you will not be disappointed.
9.0/10 RICHARD SIMONS
(For what they do, they do it very well, and though I am not the biggest death metal fan, this album is one of the best I have heard in this genre.)
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