(Firebox)
Total Time: 45:29
Being active since 2000 in Finland, DEAD IN THE WATER based their music in hardcore/punk roots, however as time went by, they decided to take a darker approach and changed their style to mid-to-slow tempo metal with some hardcore bursts. Impressive change decision…!
What should be stated here is that their attempt leans towards doom/death metal fields, combining extreme atmospheric vocals along with dark melodies providing an almost scary and unbearable result at some parts. Basically it is the melancholic mood of the album that haunts the environment. Personally it reminded me bands such as Burzum as far as the overall concept is concerned. No, they do not sound like them, but the spirit of the album reveals similarities with songs like “Dunkelheit”, in a more doomy style. The production of the album is good, with clearly played guitar melodies and harmonies accompanied by bass and drums in the background. Lökä’s voice is fantastic, acting as a bad tuned instrument giving a more pessimistic attitude to the compositions. The cover artwork is interesting implying more mysticism to the result whereas the entire CD has a strange design.
Even though this is their debut album, the finish band seems to have attained a clear direction of what their purpose is. Their sound is rigid and sometimes old fashioned but at the same time fresh and innovative, resulting in a vanguard style of play.
Consisted of only 6 tracks the album reaches duration of more than 45 minutes, without losing its general music concept.
From “The Silent Will Carry On” which is a dark death metal hymn, until the “Burden” which is the last track of the album, “Echoes…In The Ruins” will blacken your heart and raise your adrenaline in many parts. This strange mixture of doom/death elements to hardcore will definitely catch the attention of the fans of the above genres.
Powerfully frightening…
