With the days darkening earlier and earlier and the weather going to get progressively worse, this album is perfect for those moody melancholic evenings. It’s hauntingly beautiful, but for some reason rather uplifting at the same time. This is the second full length album from the Spanish outfit and far darker and gloomier than one might expect from a band from such sunny climes. Formed in Madrid in 1998, they have gone through several line-up changes before settling on Javier de Pablo for vocals, Julio Fernández on guitars, Ricardo de Pablo keeping time on the drums and Miguél Ángel Gutiérrez on the bass to record their sophomore album.
The deep timbre of Javier’s vocals suit Julio’s slow guitars and Ricardo’s well pounded toms just as much as they do the heavier guitars and rapid snap of the snare as the song progresses. The lead is truly something to enjoy as the vocals soar with it an octave higher than during the verses as “A Tear From A Beast” draws to its conclusion.
After 6 minutes of gloriously harmonious singing Javier switches to a slow deep growl on “One Step…And The Rest Of Our Lives” as the song hits its crescendo of distorted guitar and flailing cymbals before flipping back to his exquisite layers of clean vocals accompanied by piano, guitar and gentle drumming.
The picked guitar, violins and steady drum beats complement the sentimental vocals on “The Head Of The Worm” as it slowly works its way to the slightly faster and more allegro “Man’s Life Is The Wolf’s Death” with its morose violin bridge.
“Resigned To Be Lived” opens with unaccompanied vocals before rather subdued guitars and drums add a little more ambience to what is a very vocally orientated song, they gradually increase their power with an intricately played lead before it all fades then come crashing back down with full force towards the end.
The shortest track on the album is the very death vocal orientated “The Storm Remains The Same” which ebbs and flows between slow and mid-paced guitar riffing over the steady drumming.
The Supertramp cover of “Don’t Leave Me Now” uses a twin vocal track with great effect as the slightly eerie lower vocals have a whispered quality that gives a sinister edge to the harmoniously sung main vocal track.
“Father’s Will” concludes the album with vocals, violins and acoustic guitar which eventually become distorted guitars playing a strong riff with the violins soaring above them for additional flair.
Definitely well worth checking out this very enjoyable album which shall actually be even warmer during the miserable winter days.
(8/10 Marco Gaminara)
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