Anhedonia

There is a giant helping of slower acoustic/distorted-alternating doom. Very few of them stand out as something that would be anything other than some extra music to accomodate say, a taste in doom. Now Fall of Empyrean has done something else on this album. Unlike the pretentious doomish assery that bands like Opeth put out where everything basically accumulates to nothing, this band has seperated the necessary parts rather than throw them all together for no apparent reason.

This album is rife with slow, dreary melody. This is the kind of album one would listen to while just relaxing. Something that is totally unimposing and just trudges along to make you go into a catatonic relaxed state (and no, this is not funeral doom).

The vocals, alternating between clean and harsh, are very tastefully done. The whispers are haunting and the harsh vocals impose a certain amount of emotion on the listener. The guitars, switching between a grungy distorted and clean acoustic sound are also done very well. They alternate at the drop of a pin but they do work together to make the strong much stronger. The tempo varies throughout each song and picks up to accomodate mood and emotion as it progresses. The drums are done in a way so as to make them sound slightly distant and almost detatched, which adds a very interesting element to this album.

Overall, i would say this is a must for people who are a fan of Doom and even people who are a fan of Melodic Death might enjoy this.

Also, keep an eye out for a great acoustic instrumental which smacks of genuinity rather than Opethian/ Cradle of Filthian tripe.