Thy Kingdoom Come

My reviews of Doom metal albums are few and far between. It’s a genre that I love listening to when the mood strikes. Yet, for the most part I find myself returning to the classics like Sabbath, Candlemass, Cathedral, Trouble and Solitude Aeturnus. New Doom bands just don’t seem to appear on my radar (unless they are ultra extreme doom like Khanate etc). That was until now. Germany’s Doomshine are one of very few new Doom metal acts that I know of. Needless to say, I was most interested in what their debut album had to offer to the style.

For the most part, you know pretty much what you are going to get with Doom metal, particularly if you are a fan of the classic sound. As a style, Doom metal is one of least progressive forms of heavy music around. Understanding this, Doomshine are most certainly not here to provide a new take on the style. However, this is not to say that Doomshine don’t have anything going for them - far from it indeed.

Their influences may be obvious, but at the very least Doomshine provide fans with some new blood in the Doom scene. It’s great to see a young band embracing this style, rather than opting for something a little ‘trendier’. That’s what is so great about Doom metal – it’s one of the purest forms of heavy music - unsullied by commercialism or trend like behaviour. It is with this understanding that one should approach ‘Thy Kingdom Come’. This is an extremely impressive Doom metal disc that instantly recalls many of those classic acts I mentioned at the top of this review.

As a direct comparison, it is clear that Doomshine hold their contemporaries such as Candlemass and Solitude Aeturnus in high regard. Like those acts, Doomshine’s doom template is based around slow and heavy riffage blended with a dark melodic edge. Very much the traditional epic doom metal set down by the masters of the style. With an outstanding production that accentuates its heaviness, ‘TKC’ is awash with many redeeming qualities. Doomshine love writing long compositions and while this can be a trap ideas wise, they have been able to keep their tempo’s varied (although we’re not talking thrash metal here) enough to allow their haunting melodies and the vocals of Timmy Holtz to weave their magic throughout. Holtz in particular is the real star of the show – his style is very reminiscent of Rob Lowe of Solitude Aeturnus – his mid range octave provides a smooth, yet somewhat sad and ominous atmosphere to Doomshine’s overall impact.

I am also impressed with the bands ability to incorporate acoustic elements and haunting keys within the basic riff structures. They really give their songs impressive peaks and valleys – great balancing characteristics essential for any good Doom Metal album.

Doomshine can be easily accused on churning out the typical Doom metal clichés, and yes there are some. However, I get back to what Doom Metal is all about - Slow, brooding heaviness that evokes an emotive response – mainly sadness and melancholy. If that is the case, then Doomshine have come up with a most impressive album with ‘Thy Kingdom Come’. I’ve got no problem with bands being unoriginal, as long as the songs are string and convincing. These guys are no Candlemass, but for the majority of ‘TKC’ 57- minute length, Doomshine do it better than most.

Doomshine..hm..effective name for a new doom-metal band.I had the opportunity to know this band by chance.Their name just click on my mind and I decided to find the album of this band and I did it!The cover prepare us for the fateful sounds of this band.A promising new metal band for sure.

The album starts with “Where Nothing Hurt But Solitude”.Surely interesting and catchy title here but the magic comes when you hear this song.The track starts with a classic memorable doom metal riff full of power and emotion,a little guitar solo and here we are!The vocals of Tim Holz enthrall you for the first time you hear to them.The lyrics!Oh,the lyrics are just poetry.I think that the lyrics play an important role in bands such as Doomshine because they must find prototypical themes about the desperation and the despair.The vocals change with the rhythm changes and this is absolutely perfect thing and the song is being better with changes like these.The guitar solo also here is awesome and fantastic,very good effort from Doomshine.

The second song “Venus Day” starts dynamically with a strong guitar riff and then slows down.We here the quiet guitar sound and the vocals of Tim Holz which are again fitted in the atmosphere of the song.An atmosphere different from the first song.In this song you have the impression that the grief and the desperation comes to you like a cool air breeze.Perfect feeling.Again we listen a passional and powerful guitar solo.Another awesome song from Doomshine!Perfect work!

We are in third song now,”Light A Candle For Me”,this song starts with a quiet,slow guitar tune and then is being tighten with a strong guitar riff.Doomshine have the ability to combine the heaviness with a desperate feeling and this thing made me like this band.The lyrics are also remain perfect after two songs and the trip to their dreams and their fears continues with a steady rhythm.

The fourth song is “Creation”,which is also the first chapter for the sad angel legend.The song starts with a slow,baneful riff.The music here is just hypnotizing you.Emotions and feelings drift through your head and your soul.Another very good song from Doomshine and i cant understand where this trip of despair will end!

The fifth and sixth song are the continuance of the sad angel legend.Doom riffs and strong guitar for these two songs like “Creation” and the linchpin which is the despair in the music and the lyrical theme of the drama of the sad angel.Music and lyrics are combined perfectly in the story of the sad angel.I think that the first and the last song of this story (the fourth and the sixth in the album) are the best.

“A Room Without View” and we get a little bit faster here with this song.Another strong guitar riff here and good rhythm changes.The song slows down after the first minutes and becomes absolutely perfect.Very good music here.The guitar solo in this song is also strong and full of heaviness.

The eighth song is “The Cross”.A slow doom metal riff in the start and the emotional scream of Tim Holz.Then the song slows down,a quiet guitar melody and the atmospheric vocals of Tim Holz which give many points to the whole atmosphere of the album.There is also a symbolism here in the lyrics,a secret symbolism which says that the injustice still dominates the world.Another good song from Doomshine here.

The ninth and the last song here is “Valiant Child Of War”.I think that this is the most epic song in the album.All the songs have an epic taste but this is something different.The lyrical theme is also about war and memories.The sorrow and the woe of war and the lovely memories that make the soldier feels pain about the lost things in the war.This song is one of my favorites in the albuim,full of this epic feeling.A really emotional song here and a perfect end for the album.

I think that this album is one of the best debuts in 2004.The band is very promising and if continue like that they will sure make a big audience.Their music is absolutely perfect.Full of heaviness power and emotion.If’you like bands like Doomsword I think that this band will impress you too.But if you ‘re also a doom metal fan you must have this albumThe guys are ripping and this album is just perfect.