This split album features two bands playing distinctly different types of doom. The first three tracks belong to Majestic Downfall, the project of an experienced solo artist from Mexico called Jacobo. The stated aim is to “recapture the feeling of the 90s European Doom Metal scene, while mixing it with more modern Doom overtones”. The first track, “A Birds Departure” launches into ponderous Doom before picking up the pace. The vocalist’s guttural throatiness is perfect for the style. Its efficiency reminded me of the US band Agalloch. An added touch is the haunting yet melodic sound of a whistle in the background. From the darkest of beginnings, the track has a driving quality, while sticking firmly to a doom formula. “In an Ocean of Fears” starts in an almost upbeat fashion with the drums pounding healthily. Unfortunately this track lost me a bit as it seemed to be a Doom/Death track as the previous one but in an almost catchy traditional metal framework. Although instrumentally forceful, I didn’t get the impression that it succeeded in conveying the impression or atmosphere that the lyrics seem to suggest. As for “A Tear of Understanding”, there was no backbone to the track, unlike “A Birds Departure”. It goes galloping off but seemed to be a bit of an aimless cacophony. The Majestic Downfall tracks have their points, but for me finished up on an uncomfortable middle ground between Death/Doom and a more catchy commercial style.
Ansia are from Italy and also Doom-orientated, but it was clear from the outset that their style was deeper and richer than that of Majestic Downfall.
“Part 1” begins with the sound of a children’s playground. It is disturbing. The children are suffering. Through the wind and the rain an industrial framework takes shape. The drum beats steadily, the guitar meanders slowly and a croaking and desperate voice peers through the dimness. This is seriously depressive stuff, along the lines of Blut aus Nord in its pace, but focused on human suffering rather than industrial distortions. The guitar and drums grind on without let-up, eventually developing into grainy piano-driven sadness from monochrome times. For once the sound of scratched vinyl is appropriate and so “Part 2” begins. We hear the repetition of a funereal and minimalist guitar chord and so it goes on … This would be too depressing for a funeral. The track builds up with industrial intrusions, and the distorted sounds of a voice breathing its way laboriously like something out of Dr Who. It’s the Aborym /Axis of perdition school of abnormality. The dark synthesised sound is headache-inducing, and then it just dies after 5 ˝ minutes of this, inevitably going nowhere. “Part 3” is almost upbeat by comparison, starting with the further funereal clankings of Blut aus Nord. The croaking voice adds a human touch, albeit one of impending death. The rhythm is remorselessly slow and tortuous, but progresses in its melancholic, but pompous and majestic way. And so it goes on for 8 minutes before the world is laid to waste with crackling fires and more sounds of monstrous human suffering. The scene develops into an industrial underworld, decaying and utterly unpleasant, before, on 11 minutes, mighty strains of sadness emanate from the guitars to accompany the screams of despair. “Part 3” is 15 ˝ minutes of utterly epic gloom.
It would be wrong to describe Ansia’s work as unmitigated Doom. It is depressive metal of the highest order, indeed Avant-Garde Doom is a term that’s used and I can see that. Instead of focusing on an industrial horror chamber or pure Doom, it mixes them up and develops the atmosphere of despair, with the assistance of much audible human suffering. The technical variations and the sheer atmosphere are awesome, leading me to recommend Ansia to anyone with the vaguest interest in industrial Doom Metal. This is one of the most powerful examples of the genre you’ll find.
http://www.majesticdownfall.com
http://www.myspace.com/majesticdownfall
http://www.ansia-official.com
http://www.myspace.com/ansiaband
http://www.solitude-prod.com