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Shroud of Bereavement : While We Mourn
No less than five years after their acclaimed full-length Alone Beside Her, Shroud of Bereavement finally show a sign of life. The US-band has been around for quite some time, but has only released one album and a handful of shorter releases so far – a fact that isn’t all that surprising when taking a look at the fairly unstable line-up over the years. However, the stylistic basis has remained remarkably consistent thanks to main man Dan Robinson. With this beautiful new EP, he proves that his songwriting abilities are as strong as ever. Fans of the band’s earlier works will feel at home right from the beginning: Shroud of Bereavement still play their trademark mixture of somewhat raw Death Doom and Gothic Doom with neoclassical elements. If you are unfamiliar with the band, try to imagine Elegeion’s debut album with a stronger Death focus.
The title track is clearly the centrepiece of this release, covering various musical grounds in the course of its twelve minutes. Its structure is very dynamic for Doom standards, full of tempo changes and dramatic climaxes. Fragile moments with strings, piano and clean vocals (both female and male) and gorgeous melodic Death Doom riffs, rich with tasteful neoclassical ornaments, contrast with heavy doublebass outbursts and aggressive growls. This complex, eclectic composition style makes the song somewhat difficult to stomach at first, but it is all the more interesting upon repeated listen. Despite the contrasts, the ideas evolve naturally and seem to follow the ebb and flow of emotions portrayed in the melancholic lyrics. There is a certain Gothic Metal affinity to the sheer opulence of the arrangements, but the depressive atmosphere and sheer heaviness of some parts make sure the music remains firmly rooted in Death Doom nonetheless. The production is a bit of a two-edged sword: on the one hand, its raw edge is very pleasant, keeping the music well away from being too mellow and Goth-oriented, but on the other hand everything sounds a bit muddy, which makes it hard to catch all the details. Still, this is just a minor shortcoming, considering that While We Mourn is entirely self-released without the support of a label.
“An Unfamiliar Embrace”, the second original piece, is listed as a demo version on the Bandcamp page, and the drums appear to be programmed. However, the difference in sound quality is hardly audible and does not impair the listening experience in any way. This track is much more homogeneous with fewer tempo changes and less of a Death Doom feel. It is emotional and atmospheric in its own right, but clearly inferior to “While We Mourn”. In addition to the two new compositions, the EP contains an interpretation of “Forge” which already appeared on the Entering the Levitation – A Tribute to Skepticism double CD on Foreshadow Productions back in 2007. The band’s take on the Skepticism song is interesting and convincing, giving it a much more opulent and Goth-tinged appearance complete with beautiful acoustic guitars, piano and female backing vocals.
Anyone who enjoys Shroud of Bereavement will be delighted by this EP. Unfortunately, the new material merely amounts to twenty minutes and certainly cannot satisfy those who have waited for all this time, but it is a strong comeback with great promise of things to come. One cannot help but hope that we will not have to wait another five years for more fresh material to emerge!
Click HERE to discuss this review on the doom-metal forum. http://www.doom-metal.com/reviews.php?album=2379
No less than five years after their acclaimed full-length Alone Beside Her, Shroud of Bereavement finally show a sign of life. The US-band has been around for quite some time, but has only released one album and a handful of shorter releases so far – a fact that isn’t all that surprising when taking a look at the fairly unstable line-up over the years. However, the stylistic basis has remained remarkably consistent thanks to main man Dan Robinson. With this beautiful new EP, he proves that his songwriting abilities are as strong as ever. Fans of the band’s earlier works will feel at home right from the beginning: Shroud of Bereavement still play their trademark mixture of somewhat raw Death Doom and Gothic Doom with neoclassical elements. If you are unfamiliar with the band, try to imagine Elegeion’s debut album with a stronger Death focus.
The title track is clearly the centrepiece of this release, covering various musical grounds in the course of its twelve minutes. Its structure is very dynamic for Doom standards, full of tempo changes and dramatic climaxes. Fragile moments with strings, piano and clean vocals (both female and male) and gorgeous melodic Death Doom riffs, rich with tasteful neoclassical ornaments, contrast with heavy doublebass outbursts and aggressive growls. This complex, eclectic composition style makes the song somewhat difficult to stomach at first, but it is all the more interesting upon repeated listen. Despite the contrasts, the ideas evolve naturally and seem to follow the ebb and flow of emotions portrayed in the melancholic lyrics. There is a certain Gothic Metal affinity to the sheer opulence of the arrangements, but the depressive atmosphere and sheer heaviness of some parts make sure the music remains firmly rooted in Death Doom nonetheless. The production is a bit of a two-edged sword: on the one hand, its raw edge is very pleasant, keeping the music well away from being too mellow and Goth-oriented, but on the other hand everything sounds a bit muddy, which makes it hard to catch all the details. Still, this is just a minor shortcoming, considering that While We Mourn is entirely self-released without the support of a label.
“An Unfamiliar Embrace”, the second original piece, is listed as a demo version on the Bandcamp page, and the drums appear to be programmed. However, the difference in sound quality is hardly audible and does not impair the listening experience in any way. This track is much more homogeneous with fewer tempo changes and less of a Death Doom feel. It is emotional and atmospheric in its own right, but clearly inferior to “While We Mourn”. In addition to the two new compositions, the EP contains an interpretation of “Forge” which already appeared on the Entering the Levitation – A Tribute to Skepticism double CD on Foreshadow Productions back in 2007. The band’s take on the Skepticism song is interesting and convincing, giving it a much more opulent and Goth-tinged appearance complete with beautiful acoustic guitars, piano and female backing vocals.
Anyone who enjoys Shroud of Bereavement will be delighted by this EP. Unfortunately, the new material merely amounts to twenty minutes and certainly cannot satisfy those who have waited for all this time, but it is a strong comeback with great promise of things to come. One cannot help but hope that we will not have to wait another five years for more fresh material to emerge!
Click HERE to discuss this review on the doom-metal forum. http://www.doom-metal.com/reviews.php?album=2379
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MONDAY METAL REVIEW – SHROUD OF BEREAVEMENT – WHILE WE MOURN EP
Posted by oometalcageoo on February 18, 2013
SHROUD OF BEREAVEMENT
WHILE WE MOURN EP
Deep in the granite hills of New Hampshire, SHROUD OF BEREAVEMENT orchestrates and arranges another tragedy of the soul. This, self-described Neo-Classical Doom project brings ” While We Mourn”
A little bio from thier facebook page..
The Boston-based group achieves this moribund feeling by incorporating all the right musical elements: cellos, piano, violin, duo female vocal harmonies layered on top of harsh death vocals played at the pace of mile-long funeral procession. Musical influences ranging from Classical composers such as Mozart and Vivaldi, to Classic metal bands like King Diamond and Candlemass to bands that started the early death/doom movement like My Dying Bride, Anathema and Theatre Of Tragedy, providing a blue print for the group to create some of the best doom metal this world has ever heard! Shroud of Bereavement first began as a solo project of front man, Dan Robinson. In 1999, Robinson released the group’s first recording, “The Forever Dance,” which saw some European success, and through trading, caught the attention of the extreme music underground.
SHROUD OF BEREAVEMENT-While We Mourn EP – Review
The EP consists of 2 tracks, “While We Mourn” and “An Unfamiliar Embrace Demo 2011″. Both tracks are quite well orchestrated and arranged. The use of non-traditional metal instruments like piano, chello, and violin mixed with hard and heavy guitar, bass, and drums.
The vocals range from classic operatic styles that carry the listener to distant places and vicious gutteral blasts that bellow of despair with a bit of clean male vox . The mixture of sounds, textures and feelings are soothing and exciting, brutal and gentle, meaningfully brought together with pounding battering on the drums and undertoned with basslines, deeply rooted keeping it all grounded.
The music is especially theatrical and could do well as any musical scoring I have heard. I am drawn into the story and captivated, never knowing what texture is next. The painful moans and angelic sonets blend well and add a dramatic touch. The classical arrangements and powerfull guitars and drums, help build a climax that satisfies yet, leaves the listener wanting.
After all is said and done, this EP and it’s two SOB compositions, is a fantasy ride of Doom. Magical and climatic from the first note to the last.
SHROUD OF BEREAVEMENT BandCamp
SHROUD OF BEREAVEMENT Facebook
SHROUD OF BEREAVEMENT
Members:
Dann Robinson -Vocals, Guitars
Steph Robinson -Piano/ Lead vocals
Jeff Duchesne -Lead guitars
Mark Edward Rzeszutek -Bass
Kevin Royer -Drums
-Rick
OoMetalCageoO On Facebook
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…. All about The Metal …..
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MONDAY METAL REVIEW – SHROUD OF BEREAVEMENT – WHILE WE MOURN EP
Posted by oometalcageoo on February 18, 2013
SHROUD OF BEREAVEMENT
WHILE WE MOURN EP
Deep in the granite hills of New Hampshire, SHROUD OF BEREAVEMENT orchestrates and arranges another tragedy of the soul. This, self-described Neo-Classical Doom project brings ” While We Mourn”
A little bio from thier facebook page..
The Boston-based group achieves this moribund feeling by incorporating all the right musical elements: cellos, piano, violin, duo female vocal harmonies layered on top of harsh death vocals played at the pace of mile-long funeral procession. Musical influences ranging from Classical composers such as Mozart and Vivaldi, to Classic metal bands like King Diamond and Candlemass to bands that started the early death/doom movement like My Dying Bride, Anathema and Theatre Of Tragedy, providing a blue print for the group to create some of the best doom metal this world has ever heard! Shroud of Bereavement first began as a solo project of front man, Dan Robinson. In 1999, Robinson released the group’s first recording, “The Forever Dance,” which saw some European success, and through trading, caught the attention of the extreme music underground.
SHROUD OF BEREAVEMENT-While We Mourn EP – Review
The EP consists of 2 tracks, “While We Mourn” and “An Unfamiliar Embrace Demo 2011″. Both tracks are quite well orchestrated and arranged. The use of non-traditional metal instruments like piano, chello, and violin mixed with hard and heavy guitar, bass, and drums.
The vocals range from classic operatic styles that carry the listener to distant places and vicious gutteral blasts that bellow of despair with a bit of clean male vox . The mixture of sounds, textures and feelings are soothing and exciting, brutal and gentle, meaningfully brought together with pounding battering on the drums and undertoned with basslines, deeply rooted keeping it all grounded.
The music is especially theatrical and could do well as any musical scoring I have heard. I am drawn into the story and captivated, never knowing what texture is next. The painful moans and angelic sonets blend well and add a dramatic touch. The classical arrangements and powerfull guitars and drums, help build a climax that satisfies yet, leaves the listener wanting.
After all is said and done, this EP and it’s two SOB compositions, is a fantasy ride of Doom. Magical and climatic from the first note to the last.
SHROUD OF BEREAVEMENT BandCamp
SHROUD OF BEREAVEMENT Facebook
SHROUD OF BEREAVEMENT
Members:
Dann Robinson -Vocals, Guitars
Steph Robinson -Piano/ Lead vocals
Jeff Duchesne -Lead guitars
Mark Edward Rzeszutek -Bass
Kevin Royer -Drums
-Rick
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