The roots of Lord Of Shadows spread back to Romania where they were conceived under the name Cruish-Nir by Valentin Untaru aka Shadows. A couple of singles and EP were released and a name change to the present was initiated. Shadows is very much the muse here and responsible for lyrics, concept and song-writing but not the actual music itself. For this Mike Lamb of Sojourner was drafted in and so to were the vocalists, some of whom should certainly be recognisable to lovers of the gothic doom realm.
The first of these Aaron Stainthorpe of My Dying Bride should need no introduction and provides spoken oratory prose over tinkling piano on ‘Her Lips Were Poetry and Doom.’ His rich and theatrical tones are perfect as narrator as the song moves into slow drum beats and his rugged roars are unleashed. The keyboard sound takes a natural neo-classical route into ‘Faith Of The Beloved’ and Aaron is now perfectly complimented by the wilting, swooning counterpoint of ex Draconian and current Remina singer Heike Langhans. The music gently sways around them and the flow is calming on the whole with Aaron singing both cleanly and with harsher tones. Melody is strongly enforced by the keyboards and it is almost as though pace is matched to the listener’s heartbeat as it flutters away in a luxurious fashion. Poeticism cannot be ignored and by ‘At The End Of The Eclipse’ it is soaring via Heike’s gorgeous, natural tones and on this song Emilio Crespo of Sojourner’s coarse but never threatening growly rumbles.
The seven songs flow with the caress of a velvet glove, this is very much Gothic Doom for the poets and dreamers out there. It’s not going to challenge the listener and is in danger of falling into the background for those not paying it their full attention. Those who do however will soak up the richness within and those fondly waiting for new My Dying Bride material will be pleased to note Aaron is present on every track with the exception of the third. As you listen further it entices you to put it on headphones and listen in the comfort of your local graveyard as sunny day moves to dusk and shadows fall. Perhaps I should have done this and got the full experience due to the locality of St Mary’s Church a place where Byron whiled away his days writing poetry and where his viewpoint resides today.
Drama is injected via heftier drumbeats on the epic ‘Through Memories, I Give Her Life.’ There’s a military sounding two-step to them as the vocals move like sprites from Heike, completely captivating as they sparkle and the music eventually picks up the pace and deliciously canters off. The perfume is strong and intoxicating, wine is deep and red and should be the only accompanying sustenance needed to enrich this experience. Of course there is a certain degree of sombreness to be found, every rose does indeed have its thorn but the beauty in the darkness of ‘If The Tears Are Forgotten’ are evident as piano and Heike are given focus to gently glide through the tombstones and haunt with their presence as the music gently moves to natural conclusion.
With a future unwritten it is not clear if this is a one-off or if Lord Of Shadows have a future and how they are likely to progress from here? Still if it is a case of fading into dust, this album has certainly left its mark and is worthy of indulging in on those special occasions when one feels the urge to soothe the savage breast.
(8/10 Pete Woods)
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