Where Lovers Mourn

Austria's based label Napalm Records has a real knack for finding a talented band out of nowhere. Remember they have signed bands such as Tristania, The Sins Of Thy Beloved and Vintersorg to name but a few. Although they have a large quantity of very talented bands, they have over the last couple of years signed some other bands, to my personal point of view, not really metal inspired or related (Saltatio Mortis, Dominion, Die Verbannten Kinder Evas or Morgenstern). Fortunately, they have lately signed a bunch of new bands much more metal related and inspired, such as Elis, Draconian and Leaves' Eyes (the new band of former Theatre Of Tragedy female vocalist Liv Kristine). Draconian's atmospheric, melodic, and emotive type of gothic, doom influenced metal with a flair all its own, is not the latest step in the evolution of music, but their music still is among my personnal favourite of the genre. Where Lovers Mourn could not have been a more adequate album title to describe their melancolic kind of music. First of all, you have to digest the first song, The Cry Of Silence, as its length is over 12 minutes. A very emotional song, but probably not the proper one to open this album. Silent Winter is a very dynamic song, quite different from the rest of the album, but fits the album perfectly. The raw vocals of Anders Jacobsson coupled with the angelic female vocals of Lisa Johansson match perfectly on this song. Their sound becomes slower, darker and doomier on the next songs and the first band that comes to mind is My Dying Bride, especially on the song It Grieves My Heart and The Solitude with its brilliant violin opening. Dark and heavy riffs with subtle guitar melodies transcend the listener throughout the 8 songs on this remarkable debut album. I bought this album a couple of months ago and due to family happenings, I simply didn't take time to listen to it and review it immediately (as well as other stuff). What a waste of time, because this one ranks among my top 15 of the year.