Doom With A View.
Eh up, there’s trouble at t’mill, but our friends in My Dying Bride will not be hampered by life’s agonies, indeed there have been some crushing ones for vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe, facing every parent’s nightmare head on, and surfacing on the other side holding this gem aloft.
This is the 14th outing for MDB and it is gloriously gloomy as one would expect, but there is an intangible, ‘can’t quite put my finger on it’ element too. It’s possibly due to the ungodly burden they carried, their senses and emotions in a whirlpool, never-ending, always descending. We land on ‘Your Broken Shore’ with its crisp clear vocals, this is where our journey begins. The pace is quite static, as opposed to the red- hot poker skewering you sometimes get, I quite like the change. We catch a glimpse of what infinity means in ‘To Outlive The Gods’ as we are enchanted by this timeless, beautifully meandering flow of music.
The single ‘Tired Of Tears’ shares the eternal pain, when you’re all cried out, and you set the challenge to your enemy ‘lay no hand on my daughter’ it is hurt personified. We have a chance to vent our anger, point the accusatory finger and stand firm in the face of adversity. Guitarist Andrew Craighan found himself mostly alone in the songwriting this time, his musings and scribblings led to this intricately woven tapestry that instils belief, recharges the weak and fosters a spirit of hope and gratitude and triumph.
There is a romanticism about this too; it’s quite breath-taking in its sombre sobriety and delicious darkness.
‘The Solace’ sees Lindy-Fay Hella of Wardruna with her ghostly, dreamy whisperings, calling you to a place of serenity and sanctuary.
The steady tempo could be interpreted as boring, going nowhere, perhaps there is a reason for it. Sometimes when things are going badly, you don’t see any progress, time has stopped, and you can’t run towards the light when there isn’t any. It is painfully comforting as you take stock of what is happening and assess your options.
We salute ‘The Old Earth’ in a record that is from the broken, for the broken; even Mother Nature cried. In these trying times we seek innocence and integrity, a haven and a helping hand, it’s time to lay down your arms my friends. The final song is the shortest, ‘Your Woven Shore’ is an awe-inspiring piece, with gentle and uplifting tones, it is a fitting end.
Sit this hallowed crown of doom upon thine head, see it shimmer in the morning sun. Our work here is done.
My Dying Bride – The Ghost Of Orion out now via Nuclear Blast