Doom has ever been one of the more conservative genres of metal – by which I mean its evolution progresses at about the same pace as the average doom riff. With links to the progenitors of the entire music form, Black Sabbath, it is inextricably linked to the past and I always think that has the effect of bringing a certain dogmatic loyalty among doom lovers that borders on being downright stubborn. Don’t get me wrong, I am one of those people. But I sometime feel that bands relentlessly adhere to the script a little too much.
So its been interesting this year to pick up so many albums that have not only continued to fly the flag, and do it very well, but also strike out and chip away at the mould. The latest in the more wayward category is Australian Terry Vainoras and his one man project Subterranean Disposition. The overriding and obvious comparison is My Dying Bride right down to the variety of vocals he throws out but he’s far from a faithful disciple of the band. Vainoras has clearly set out to push the envelope after working with a host of bands over the past twenty years. From death and black metal bands, to goth rock band The Eternal. The variety of his experiences probably explains the breadth of influences on show here. This material was destined for a return visit for one of his earlier collaborations, doom-death band Insomnius Dei, and is pretty much a more finely manicured incarnation.
As with many solo attempts by extreme metal bands the results are refreshingly (if ‘refreshing’ is a word that can be used in a doom context) original and at times verging on the eccentric. Extended ambient passages, saxophones and ethereal female vocals are not the only bit of genre bending Vainoras goes in for (there’s even what I can only describe as a Tori Amos moment on the second track Prolong this Agony). The instant hit is provided by third track Seven Sisters of Sleep with its heavy building guitars but the other tracks are more dissonant, sludgy and gothic. It’s not without its chugging heaviness but at other times more of the swaying variety and others still even sitting in your favourite arm chair, contemplating life with a well stuffed pipe. Final track Wailing My Keen drifts in and out of mellow keyboards but finishes with a nice crushing finale reminding us once and for all that, while this is not a release that is all about the impact of the riff, he can still pull it out of the bag when he wants.
Another decent release from label Hypnotic Dirge and recommended to more adventurous fans of the gothic end of the doom catalogue – even if some others are likely to find this a bit self-contemplative and tough going.
(7/10 Reverend Darkstanley)
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