Shores of Null – Black Drapes for Tomorrow (Doom Metal)

Candlelight Records used to be a label I always looked at when I wanted the more extreme quality music. Sure they still got Emperor, Winterfylleth, Shade Empire and Limbonic Art that I like but they used to have so much more than that! Entombed, Enslaved, Enthroned, Dismember, 1349, Candlemass etc. The list is very long on some of the worlds biggest metal acts that’s been with Candlelight one way or another. From Candlelight we do have one of the best melodic doom albums you will hear this year though. It’s the Italian band (I’ve told you, this is probably Italy’s biggest metal year) Shores of Null that bless us with their sophomore album Black Drapes for Tomorrow. The band was formed in 2013 with members from the likes of Zippo and Noumeno.

Black Drapes for Tomorrow offers the same kind of high quality doom metal you’re used to hear from heavy hitters within the scene like Katatonia, Daylight Dies and Novembers Doom. This is the first time I hear Shores of Null and they are blowing me away quite frankly. I can’t really find a single song that isn’t good, and it gets better each time I play it. I’ve heard from others that told me about Shores of Null that this record is a safe path and a bit weaker than their debut Quiescence. If it is then I’ll be damn that album is nearly perfect, just like this is a hidden gem within the metal community every doom fan should be all over, safe path or not. Straccione’s vocals are perfect for this kind of music and the guitar duo Raffaele Colace and Gabriele Giaccari are in sync like it’s almost a symbiosis.

As I said before this album is so damn good and solid through and through it’s hard to pick favorite tracks (second album in a row, lucky me). If I had to then it would have to be Donau, Tide Against Us and We Ain’t Ashes. If you need your fill of gloom and darkness then Black Drapes for Tomorrow is an album you can’t miss. Shores of Null sophomore album Black Drapes for Tomorrow is out now through Candlelight Records.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shoresofnull
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/shoresofnull
Label: Candlelight Records
For fans of: Katatonia and Daylight Dies
Favorite song: Tide Against Us

Red Moon Architect – Return of the Black Butterflies (Doom Metal)

Not too long ago I reviewed Kaunis Kuolematon, a Finnish melodic doom/death metal band that I found being a hidden gem from the Finnish metal scene. I’ve kept on digging for more doom and gloom sound from the cold heart of Finland and I didn’t even need to look far, actually I didn’t need to look at all since Inverse Records were kind enough to email me a promo with exactly what I was looking for. Red Moon Architect were formed 2011 in a very fitting environment, namely a town called Kuovola. The town is often called the ‘largest lighted cemetery’ in Finland, so it’s no wonder the town gave birth to a doom metal band.

Compared to Kaunis Kuolematon and Swallow the Sun this is a bit heavier music in some aspects and touches on funeral doom sound. Shape of Despair is the closest I can come to their sound (that being said I am not the most experienced doom metal listener). It’s haunting sound and heavy doom will surely get to you and it’s an emotional journey that Red Moon Architect guides you through beautifully. The addition of vocalist Ville Rutanen (ex-The Final Harvest and ex-Casket) after losing Juuso Turkki (Hypothesis) was a really great move. He does a superb job in his debut taking over the doom mantle and it’s burdens like he has been in the band since the start. Anni Viljanen sings just as beautiful as ever, while Saku Moilanen, Jukka Jauhiainen and Matias Moilanen pulls off their best performance yet.

I’d never heard of Red Moon Architect until last week. After listening to this album I was hooked, had to dig into the rest of their discography (which was the reason this review didn’t get out yesterday) and I had a really good time going through it. It’s great doom metal and for me they are now one of my go to bands within the genre. Return of the Black Butterflies is out May 19th through Inverse Records (another great release by them) and until then I suggest you listen through their discography to prepare yourself for what is to come!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RedMoonArchitect
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/RMAmetal
For fans of: Swallow the Sun and Shape of Despair
Favorite song: NDE

Kaunis Kuolematon – Vapaus (Melodic Doom/Death Metal)

Ending my days with pure Finnish music we slow it down a notch and go for a doom twist in Finlands melodic death metal heaven. Kaunis Kuolematon is Finnish for “Beautiful Immortal” and in many ways I think this shows in their music. Singing purely in Finnish it’s a band that doesn’t get much attention outside Finland but here is me hoping that is soon to change. Vapaus is Kaunis Kuolematon’s second release after their 2014 debut Kylmä kaunis maailma received quite a bit of praise for being one of the better death/doom debuts these past years. Being compared to Swallow the Sun in the process, which proves these rockers got a lot of talent. Vapaus hopefully continues that road and elevates the bands sound even more.

Eloton is a sweet introduction to Kaunis Kuolematon where the harsh and clean vocals works in great symphony and this is the type of death/doom combination I’ve come to love from the Nordic countries. Hurskas continue that right up until 2:20 in where it takes a turn and all of a sudden becomes a beautiful acoustic medley building up for fantastic guitar plays and riffs. Yksin is, in my humble opinion, the song that gets to me the most. It’s a beautiful ballad with lyrics that saddens you but also gives you hope, it’s simply stunning. What’s more is that the song smoothly transition to Tuhottu elämä which initially ups the tempo and brings you more of that headbang worthy riffing. The way Kaunis Kuolematon changes the tempo during the album really does makes me think of Swallow the Sun, one of the best death/doom bands out there. Ikuinen ikävä is the heaviest song on Vapaus and if it wasn’t for Yksin being one of the best songs I’ve heard all year it would be my favorite song on the album. It definitely got the best instrumental elements in my ears. Ikaros is yet another good slow paced song but it’s the next two tracks that grabs my attention the most. Arvet, one more track with very powerful lyrics along with great music, quickly becoming another favorite of mine. Sanat jotka jäivär sanomatta ends the album in a great way, a magnificent ballad where the use of clean and harsh vocals really shines. Ending this sad journey of war, life and death with memories of your loved ones being there forever.

Last year I had October Tide’s Winged Waltz as my favorite doom album release. This year I can sense Vapus grabbing that spot. Kaunis Kuolematon uses a formula that works and melodic doom/death doesn’t get much better than this in my opinion. Vapaus is out now through Haminian Sounds. Knowing Finnish or not I still suggest you get it!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KaunisKuolematon
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pahankasvot
For fans of: Swallow the Sun and Barren Earth
Favorite song: Yksin