A Darkness Remembered

The bands name, Fall of Empyrean, is just fancy way of saying "paradise lost". And while it's a cool way of saying it, it is flagrantly false advertising. Arizona isn't known for doom and if this is the States' best example of it then there's no surprise why. The band does have some good moments here and there but what they have in the way of originality they lack in creativity.

This album is a couple of steps forward on all fronts when compared to their debut. The music is slow with a few more uptempo changes throughout to make it more listenable. This is decidedly more doom than death in its presentation. Normally that's not a band thing, however, it would've been better had they played with speed more. The music is very melodic and the keyboards are too prevalent in the mix. The guitars are primarily open chorded. Every so often they leave their stagnant dirges for more epic climes but ultimately they seem to do the same thing over and over. The drums are competent and vocals brutal, but the songs just aren't there.

As stated above the music is fairly original but that isn't enough to save this album. This is 70 parts boring and 30 parts interesting. This is the USA's equivalent to Mourning Beloveth, only mostly boring and pretentious. Aside from the tempo issues there is a sense of forced melancholy. The songs are mostly the same speed and have the same sound. It's almost like listening to the same song over and over again. It doesn't feel like the depression here is for real and part of that is the keyboards. They rely too much on non-traditional sounds and overshadow the rest of the instruments.

Keyboards in a band like this should never take center stage and should be primarily background noise. The best part of the music would be the vocals. They fit the music perfectly though they do sound as if they were recorded through a blown PA at times. Overall, the production is OK for an Oak Knoll release.

The musicianship is competent and there is some conviction in their playing but there's nothing cathartic about it. This was a failed attempt at overly romanticized doom/death. When the right mood strikes, every couple of years or so, this album and its predecessor are nice to run through once or twice but this isn't something that'll make you want to hit the repeat button on your CD player.

Fall Of Empyrean's A Darkness Remembered is at its best a slightly above average release. It may be doom, may be slow, but it lacks what, in my opinion, doom should have - heavyness. The production on this album just doesnt do the music justice. If this album had a better production and tone it could be really good however from the music, you just dont get the feeling these guys are really into it. There are some really wonderful harmonies but they dont stand out. The drums, at times, sound fake - note: unnecessary acoustic break in first song The Fading Light. Some of the leads are really good. Listening to this I am reminded of Virgin Black's Elegant... And Dying however without any of the emotion.

The musicianship is decent however, as said before, lacks impact due to production. There could be more happening with the drums. Andy York's drumming is decent but like the rest of the instruments could be played with more conviction. Richard Medina's vocals aren't bad either but they also are not superior. The keyboards - always been a pet peeve for me unless used really well - are prominent thought neither add or detract. Dan Sobeck's bass playing isnt bad and helps the album move along at points, especially during acoustic sections which this band seems to really enjoy throwing just about everywhere.

The songs are rather long - eight songs clocking in at just over an hour is quite ridiculous especially when you are usure where songs start and end. With no real focuses in the songs, they slip by, in one ear and out the other. Occasional riffs stand out when contrasted with those around them, not in a memorable way. When every song also includes a two minute acoustic break, you start to wonder if they realize they are playing different songs. With such long, monotonous songs this album wears on you. It was hard to listen to the first five songs, listening to the rest was akin to suffocating myself with shit covered toilet paper.