MY DYING BRIDE ‘Songs of Darkness, Words of Light ’
(Peaceville Records 2004)
It was the beginning of the 90's when four guys named Calvin, Aaron, Andy
and Rick decided to form a band. Their first demo called "Towards The
Sinister" was released after six months of intensive training, and since
then the four musicians became a reference point for what an artist can
achieve when talent and devotion is involved.
Their discography consists of seven amazing studio releases, three EP's, two collections, a live album
(with a sound quality that can put to shame many studio recordings), and one
DVD. Yes you've guessed right: The masters of sorrow "My Dying Bride" are
back, claiming your devotion with an album that's destined to become a
classic.
It's almost amazing how this band manages to keep it's identity and
progress musically at the same time, a true sign of a natural born leader.
"Songs of Darkness, Words of Light" is the band's 8th studio release and
finds them more mature than ever. Aaron and Co decided to leave all their
"technical ambitions" in the past and focused more on the melodic and
majestic paths they've followed with their latest two releases "The Light at
the End of the World" and "The Dreadful Hours" - something that will
definitely please their fans worldwide.
The opening track of this great album is "The Wreckage of my Flesh", the
best way to begin your trip into the land of sorrow and grief. Every little
element that makes this band unique is present: great guitar work by Andrew
Craighan and Hamish Glencross, the dynamic appearance of a well formed
rhythm section by Ade Jackson (Bass) and Shaun Taylor-Steels (Drums), the
melancholic melodies of Aaron Stainthorpe's voice and, above all, beautiful
but not overused keyboard melodies by Sarah Stanton. If you are wondering
how to create an eight minute composition without becoming boring, you'll
probably need to speak with these guys!
A nice heavy riff will introduce you to "The Scarlet Garden". Aaron takes the lead and delivers one of his
most emotional performances ever, with a little help from Andrew and Hamish.
The song has many melodic moments which work like the Ancient Greek Tragedy:
It brings your soul to emot! ional stillness with it's melancholic melodies
and then lift you to the top with it's heavy guitar riffs and powerful
drumming.
This process will make you feel as if a huge burden was lifted
from your shoulders and will prepare you for "Catherine Blacke" - a song
that uses the typical My Dying Bride formula (slow and heavy) until the
second minute when sorrow gives way to anger. Aaron's "evil" vocals are
flirting with heavy guitars and strong drum beats long enough to prepare you
for a keyboard melody that is just as good as the ones used by Cradle Of
Filth in their recent releases.
Things will slow down significantly with "My
Wine In Silence", something you obviously need in order to charge your
batteries. I like how Ade's bass lines combine with Aaron's voice in this
song, even when the band's frontman decides to bring out his dark side -
simply excellent.
"The Prize of Beauty" is the song that the band chose for
t! heir new video - a very wise choice since it's a smartly creat! ed rhyth
mical song. Next comes one of the heaviest songs of the album, "The Blue
Lotus", a song with an interesting choice of guitar melodies that reminded
me of the early days of Paradise Lost.
One of my favourite songs of the album is "And my Fury Stands Ready". The song starts with Aaron's voice
indicating the amount of heaviness needed, only until acoustic guitars claim
the leading role. Then Aaron begins a minute long narration until another
heavy riff awakes the band's inner demons and all hell breaks loose! With a
feeling of sadness I listened to "A Doomed Lover", the last song of the
album.
Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen - My Dying Bride created another masterpiece. All
you have to do is simply add it to your collection!
****
Review by John Stefanis
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