(Massacre) Total Time: 70:39 (digipack edition) 60:29 (standard edition)
This is the new studio album of the Texas Doom Metallers Solitude Aeturnus. Their last studio album entitled Adagio was released eight years ago and since then they were in total silence. It is a fact that many things have changed during all this time in the band that had gone through some really difficult times. But they have managed to remain alive and kicking and they have finally offered to us their long waited sixth album. Nine new tracks are included in the new album plus a bonus track in its limited digipack edition. So let’s make a reference to each song…
Scent of Death is the first track of the record and it is simply a Doom Metal anthem, one of the most epic, dark and mysterious compositions that the band has ever written. This song is simply the ideal choice to be the album’s opening track. The trademarks of the song are of course the crystal clear vocals of Robert Lowe and the great twin guitar job of both john Perez and Steve Mosley: nothing more and nothing less than magnificent and dark main riffs and leads based in eastern musical forms. Mentioning the vocals of Robert Lowe I have to point that they sound in perfect condition and form, much better comparing with the vocals of Adagio back in 1998.
Waiting For the Light is not that slow –comparing with the previous anthem-, it is in mid tempo featuring for one more time some magnificent riffs and lead themes. The dramatic epilogue of the song is of course its stronger element. Robert Lowe’s vocals are drawing black soundscapes creating a dramatic epilogue as the song is getting slower and slower…
If someone had caught the band on stage in their recent shows in Europe –where they played three songs from the new album-, or have downloaded the demo version of Waiting For The Light that was available for sometime online, then Blessed Be the Dead is actually the first “new” Solitude Aeturnus song to hear: a gloomy track, covered by a strange melodic mist. You would get into the background of the song even from the very first tune. The lead guitar themes and –once again- the vocals are the strongest elements in here.
Sightless is the faster song of the album. Built in an almost Power Metal basis, this song is the ideal choice for someone that is not aware of those Texas Doom Metal Gods music. It is almost sure that if the DJ of your favourite metal club decides to play a track from Alone this track would be Sightless. An ideal song for live shows as well (Scent Of Death, Waiting For The Light and Sightless were the three song that the band have performed live in their resent European shows in April 2006 long before the album was even recorded and released). Back to the song description it is catchy and memorable featuring a heavy as hell rhythm section –the same goes for all the songs of the album but the rhythm parts of Sightless are really strong-. Mr Lowe sounds even more obscure and angry in here., great tune for sure.
Upon Within follows and our journey to the strange, dark world of the new Solitude Aeturnus album goes on, deeper and deeper into the sorrowful vortex of Doom Metal, we are slowly Burning and we like it. Yes Burning is the title of the next song based on a strange, obscure and heavy background of black melodies, for sure songs like this are difficult to be described using typical words. Even the order of the songs in the album has a specific meaning, they have been put on a certain order to give to the listener the felling of unique journey with its strong and more calm moments. Yes this journey still goes on and as I was hearing the next song entitled Is There I got the feeling that the listener is driven slowly into a musical crescendo… Well, I was right…
Tomorrows Dead would drive the listener to a total catharsis. The mourn of the damned that begs for a little more piece of life is trapped into the haunted melodies of this anthem. Just listen to the way that Robert Lowe SINGS in here and you would understand what I mean. Essence of Black is the ideal epilogue of this record, slowly and painful melodies are driving the listener to the end of this journey, in a strange gloomy way.
The limited digi pack edition of the album includes a bonus track entitled Embraced: a 10 minute long Doom Metal song with a little old fashion touch in it and an obscure felling in the vocals.
A word must be written about the great front cover and the artwork of the album that fits perfect with the general mood of the music.
A masterpiece: that is the new Solitude Aeturnus album. The vocals of Robert Lowe, the guitars of John Perez and Steve Mosley, the rhythm section of James Martin (bass) and Steve Nichols (drums), everything is a strong piece for a perfect Doom Metal puzzle, the puzzle of Alone. This album is the strongest proof that mournful Epic Doom Metal is still alive and has great pieces of art to offer. Mentioning the production of the album I got to point that Alone is very well produced and it is for sure the best Solitude Aeturnus album as far the sound quality and the production. As far as the music –which is the most important thing in here of course- I would simply put this record next to the other classic releases of the band. In my opinion Alone is one of the stronger and most inspired Metal albums released so far during the 00s. It is the mournful anthem of all those who carry the flame of Doom Metal inside their souls. It is the black sun of our eternal midnight. Just listen to this album and you would understand my point….
