Skin & Sorrow (Aqualamb) is the second full-length release from Cleveland, Ohio’s “heavy, low and witchy” duo Frayle. The band consists of multi-instrumentalist Sean Bilovecky and singer Gwyn Strang, who between them cite the influence both doom metal (Black Sabbath, Kyuss, Sleep) and avant-garde pop (Björk, Portishead). Frayle’s stated aim is to create “music for the night sky”.
The very essence of doom metal is not for everyone, what with its bumper-to-bumper pacing and tame singing. In some cases, the very notion of metal is difficult to pick apart from the rest of the music.
According to reports from Decibel and Metal Sucks, Peaceville Records founder Paul “Hammy” Halmshaw is terminally ill with a heart condition and needs help to cope with his condition from fans, and peers. There is a crowdfunding campaign launched via JustGiving. Peaceville has given the world albums by such legendary musical acts as Katatonia, Autopsy, Darkthrone, Paradise Lost, and My Dying Bride. Hammy, who is now 56 years old, was recently diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a hereditary, terminal condition in which the heart muscle becomes weakened and enlarged. “As a result, the heart cannot pump enough blood to the rest of the body,” according to MedlinePlug.gov.
Long-running Melodic Gothic Doom band My Dying Bride has shared a new single and lyric video for the song “A Secret Kiss’. The track comes from their just-announced new EP Macabre Cabaret, due for released November 20th via Nuclear Blast Records. Watch it now!
The more disparate aspects influence a band, the more it’s able to grow. Psalm Zero‘s music prior to the new album Sparta (Last Things Records) was all aggravated Indie, the tunes given an edge by guitarist Andrew Hock. With his departure and the subsequent recruitment of Kayo Dot pairing Keith Abrams and Ron Vodun, remaining founder member Charlie Looker has added a warmer, heavier feel to the Grungey lightness and this, together with a tantalising contribution from Lingua Ignota‘s Kristin Hayter, makes the album an enticing prospect.Continue reading
As a proud Lancastrian all my life, it pains me to acknowledge the occasional superiority of bitter neighbours Yorkshire. One such area of supremacy is within the realm of Doom Metal: Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride have wielded the White Rose over some of the genre’s most memorable, emotional moments of the last thirty years and the latter’s erstwhile guitarist Hamish Glencross is determined to carry on that sound with his latest outfit Godthrymm. Debut album Reflections (Profound Lore Records) oozes the drama, power, and tragedy of his former band.Continue reading
Banality on stilts is perhaps a harsh way to sum up an album, but this is, after all, a harsh review. And there is no surer way to describe Adore (Season Of Mist), the latest album by Canadian avowed mourn-mongers Numenorean.Continue reading
