Release
date: September 18th 2015. Label: Peaceville Records
Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Feel
The Misery - Tracklisting
1.
And My Father Left Forever (9:22)
2.
To Shiver In Empty Halls (9:46)
3.
A Cold New Curse (9:02)
4.
Feel the Misery (6:20)
5.
A Thorn of Wisdom (5:04)
6.
I Celebrate Your Skin (6:53)
7.
I Almost Loved You (5:27)
8.
Within a Sleeping Forest (10:42)
Band
Members:
Aaron
- Vocals.
Andrew
- Guitar.
Calvin
- Guitar.
Lena
- Bass
Shaun
- Keyboards / Violin
Review:
So
My Dying Bride are back with their first full length since 2012's "A
Map Of All Our Failures" and let me tell you it's been worth the
wait. (Or should that be weight. Cos the riffs. They're heavy)
One
of the things I always find intriguing about MDB is for a band that's
roots are so obviously set in misery and despair there is always a
kind of fragile hope that lives within the music they create. Whether
it's due to the now well documented real life events that occurred
during the recording process or whether it's just what my ears want
to hear it's definitely still present throughout this record.
Opening
with the majestic "And My Father Left Forever" the record
springs into action in top gear with some great dual guitar work over
thunderous drums before the vocals join the fray. Just before the 2
minute mark the pace slows and we're deep into Doom territory as that
haunting violin plays over Aaron's mournful but beautiful vocals and
I'm hooked.
Second
track "To Shiver In Empty Halls" starts abruptly and
features some deep growling vocals to compliment the more usual clean
style I'm used to with MDB but I ruddy love them. They're just gruff
enough to make an impact but not so gruff the lyrics are lost beneath
it.
About
halfway the song fades away to clean guitars and piano which in turn
leads into a spoken word passage before a growl from the depths. At
this point I naturally assumed the song was going to build into a
riff fest so imagine my surprise when it actually fades back out
again with a whispered vocal repeated over some clean guitars. "For
those of you I know exist/I leave for you three number six" It's
a little like the creepiest nursery rhyme ever, but I assure you it's
a brilliant ending and makes just as much impact as the
aforementioned riff fest I was expecting.
More
of the same on "A Cold New Curse" huge disgustingly heavy
riffs, mixed with more traditional slower parts as the vocals switch
from dirty to clean throughout. Three tracks in and nothing under 9
minutes. Perfect. I feel like I don't want this album to end.
Next
up is album title track "Feel The Misery" (watch the video
here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e_c3XAPoUI)
In
an interview in this months Terrorizer (other magazines are
available.) there is a suggestion that this album is the bands most
commercial to date. On this track I can kind of see that. Not only
with its radio friendly run time of 6 minutes, but there's also
stacks or melody dripping from the riffs that pin the track together.
Not to say that it isn't still heavy. Because it is. In fact it's
heavier than Bella Emberg's bingo wings so I guess we wont be hearing
it on Radio 1 main play anytime soon.
Both
"A Thorn Of Wisdom" and "I Celebrate Your Skin"
continue the theme of shorter running lengths but still manage to
tick all the right boxes and just keeps me totally immersed in the
record.
The
next track "I Almost Loved You" is a little bit special.
And it's definitely a little bit different. Strings, piano and more
of those beautiful heartfelt vocals. And that's it. No riffs. Not
one. But it doesn't need them. I'm not sure what the story is to this
song (if indeed there is one) but it feels incredibly personal and is
an absolutely beautiful piece of music.
"Within
A Sleeping Forest" closes the album in style. The longest (just)
track on the album and the riffs are back. So are those growls. And
they sound fucking massive. Certainly the slowest track on the record
and it does EVERYTHING you want from a MDB record during its 10 and a
bit minutes. Guitar harmonies, that solitary violin and of course
those emotive vocals.
2015
has been a good year for Doom I would say. There's been a lot of
records out already that will have people talking for some time and
perhaps as we start to think a bit about end of year lists MDB have
thrown their hat into the ring with a real contender.
"Feel
The Misery" is a powerful, and haunting record that seeps
sadness from it's pores, but it is utterly absorbing and will keep
you going back to revisit it time after a time.
Words
by Simon Ross Williams
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