This is the first full release from Italian band Your Tomorrow Alone whose gothic-progressive output recalls the likes of Paradise Lost, Anathema and Trail of Tears. “Ordinary Lives” was a case of much promise and lost momentum. The promise was right at the start. The opening track “Renaissance” is dark and pungent. It sets the scene and shows the capabilities of the band. Steadiness is something we will get used to. There is a mix of growls and progressive-style clean vocals. There are a lot of good touches, it’s a little gothic. “Renaissance” is a well-constructed song and is nice to listen to.
And then …. the spirit disappears. Doom metal isn’t supposed to be uplifting but My Dying Bride seem to manage it. The ingredients are the same – languid progressions, a melancholic air, gloom, occasional moments of disturbing orchestral whistling and some growling. “Praise for Nothing” has torrents of gloom, but it drags on. I lost the message. Distant vocals and plodding rhythms provide a surplus of melancholy. The spoken word flavours the sultry scene of “The Essence of Gloom” but it’s all getting increasingly monochrome and agonising. “Bursting Hope” is an ambling song, tinged with gothic gloom and emotion but it’s a poor quality song. The techniques remain the same: quite nice guitar touches to be fair, growls and distorted orchestral. There’s a brief moment of hope with some madcap keyboard but this album was becoming a test of endurance. There’s no breadth. “Far from the Sight” doggedly follows the same ambiance. It drives you into the ground. I wasn’t just losing the message. I was losing the will to live. By the seventh track “One Last Breath” I was fed up with it. It has the desultory structure that has been there since the beginning. Yes, we get that it’s gloomy out there. Each track is a clone of the previous one. “One Last Breath” gathers a little oomph with the doomy growling but it’s not exactly majestic or inspiring. Another acoustic and orchestral track follows. Appropriately, it’s called “Agony (praeludium)”. The singer’s flat voice represents the grey world that this album is intent on depicting. Relief comes in the form of the final track “In Silence”. It is a characterless dirge.
Well, I suppose this album made an impression on me even if it wasn’t a pleasant one. “Ordinary Lives” is nothing I haven’t heard before. It’s predictable and dreary. It succeeds in creating an atmosphere and it’s monotone and there’s nothing interesting here. I guess that could be the aim.
(4/10 Andrew Doherty)
www.facebook.com/yourtomorrowalone
Leave a Reply