Alright, as some of you know, I was originally going with Wolves in the Throne Room but since we've covered that in a different thread, here's plan B (and actually, I'm glad I went with this now because it should interest a wider audience.)
So here is SLUMBER -- a Swedish "doom/death band" according to their press release -- but allow me to elaborate on their 2005 release, "Fallout":
1. Rapture: http://s40.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3NX2I6Y3MC5CU3NB9VUXV9EXFC
2. Conflict:http://s40.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=18JH9K864NG5H1220NMJ06K6IY
3. Where Nothing was Left
4. Fallout: http://s40.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1KI2VR260AP9C292K4NB7VA1I4
5. Distress
6. Dreamscape
7. A Wandering Star
Think: KATATONIA + MAR DE GRISES + NOVEMBERS DOOM + old EVERGREY + RADIOHEAD.
Firstly, it rules.
The production is exceptionally clean, and there's not a single clean male vocal in sight. It's low-pitched death vocals all the way.
Quite honestly, on first listen, you're probably going to hear the Katatonia influence more than anything else, and there's no doubt they've been enthusiastic about bands like RAPTURE or DAYLIGHT DIES attempting to further this style.
HOWEVER, There's a lot more than meets the eye -- try it with some volume and headphones. YOU REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON THE GUITAR WORK especially on the solos -- just stunning, and the piano helps keep the whole album afloat.
Optional Reading (just stuff I want to share about where the posted songs work for me):
"Rapture":
0.55m -- that half a second pause before the double-bass drums kick in
1.30m -- the reprise of that piano melody in the intro alongside the vocals
2.20m -- the guitar solo.
3.15m -- it gets a little "spacey", some f/x....and then the female choirs fade in....singing in latin keeps it all very dark sounding. Just a brilliant outro, reminding me very much so of MAR DE GRISES' "To see Saturn Fall".
"Conflict":
0.30m -- the guitar melody, so 'bright' and yet the vocals are just so fucken guttural
1.13m -- the female vocals return, and this whole set piece sounds so much like old EVERGREY to me, at least in atmosphere
1.45m -- the guitar lead work -- lots of harmonies, reprising the main melody line
"Fallout":
THAT GLORIOUS FUCKEN INTRO
0.52m -- bonus points for anyone picking up the RADIOHEAD vibe, very much 'flying in the sky' type feel
2.21 - 2.52m -- just that whole section gives me wood, before it plummets into the acoustic guitars
5.48m -- where the guitars fade out into that very sombre 'practice amp in a basement' outro riff
So needless to say, this album made my top 10 list of 2005. One of the reasons I never posted my fave albums from last year is because I wanted to keep this one on the backburner.
Hopefully several of you should really appreciate this. I fucken hope so.
So here is SLUMBER -- a Swedish "doom/death band" according to their press release -- but allow me to elaborate on their 2005 release, "Fallout":
1. Rapture: http://s40.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3NX2I6Y3MC5CU3NB9VUXV9EXFC
2. Conflict:http://s40.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=18JH9K864NG5H1220NMJ06K6IY
3. Where Nothing was Left
4. Fallout: http://s40.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1KI2VR260AP9C292K4NB7VA1I4
5. Distress
6. Dreamscape
7. A Wandering Star
Think: KATATONIA + MAR DE GRISES + NOVEMBERS DOOM + old EVERGREY + RADIOHEAD.
Firstly, it rules.
The production is exceptionally clean, and there's not a single clean male vocal in sight. It's low-pitched death vocals all the way.
Quite honestly, on first listen, you're probably going to hear the Katatonia influence more than anything else, and there's no doubt they've been enthusiastic about bands like RAPTURE or DAYLIGHT DIES attempting to further this style.
HOWEVER, There's a lot more than meets the eye -- try it with some volume and headphones. YOU REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON THE GUITAR WORK especially on the solos -- just stunning, and the piano helps keep the whole album afloat.
Optional Reading (just stuff I want to share about where the posted songs work for me):
"Rapture":
0.55m -- that half a second pause before the double-bass drums kick in
1.30m -- the reprise of that piano melody in the intro alongside the vocals
2.20m -- the guitar solo.
3.15m -- it gets a little "spacey", some f/x....and then the female choirs fade in....singing in latin keeps it all very dark sounding. Just a brilliant outro, reminding me very much so of MAR DE GRISES' "To see Saturn Fall".
"Conflict":
0.30m -- the guitar melody, so 'bright' and yet the vocals are just so fucken guttural
1.13m -- the female vocals return, and this whole set piece sounds so much like old EVERGREY to me, at least in atmosphere
1.45m -- the guitar lead work -- lots of harmonies, reprising the main melody line
"Fallout":
THAT GLORIOUS FUCKEN INTRO
0.52m -- bonus points for anyone picking up the RADIOHEAD vibe, very much 'flying in the sky' type feel
2.21 - 2.52m -- just that whole section gives me wood, before it plummets into the acoustic guitars
5.48m -- where the guitars fade out into that very sombre 'practice amp in a basement' outro riff
So needless to say, this album made my top 10 list of 2005. One of the reasons I never posted my fave albums from last year is because I wanted to keep this one on the backburner.
Hopefully several of you should really appreciate this. I fucken hope so.
