I still remember that cold Chicago winter day in 1992 when I first purchased a My Dying Bride CD. It was called "As The Flower Withers" and my friend at Reckless Records, the cd shop I frequented, was just raving about it being the best doom metal album he had heard since Candlemass "Tales Of Creation" had hit the shelves some 5 or more years before. I finally gave in to his peer pressure and picked the disc up and hurried my way back to the train to get warm and go home before the next snowfall started. Once at the station I unwrapped the disc from it's cellophane skin and placed it into my walkman. From the very first few notes I felt a shiver creep up my spine, colder than the air about my flesh...colder than I had felt from music in a very long time. I felt the music instantly crawl deeply into my psyche and take root like some sort of dark possession.
The albums that followed this masterpiece brought about the same dark pleasures for me. "Turn Loose The Swans", Songs of Darkness, Words of Light" and "The Light at the End of the World" and The "Dreadful Hours " all held their place among my my musical treasures and I still own all of the original copies to this day. I look upon MDB's work like I would a Hieronymous Bosch painting, dark and foreboding, miserable and forelorn, but entrapped in a beauty that cannot be extinguished. Both damning and full of salvation entertwined into a fount of musical artistry.
So, here we are, 2009 Anno Domine, and MDB is back with a new glimpse into their dark world of doom and despair. No longer do I dwell in a climate of snow and bleakness, I can still feel that same coldness I felt creeping about me so long ago the very second the first few notes come into play. It is a perfect analogy to this dark opera, "For Lies I Sire", that it was released in the midst of winter. The crystalline guitar work resounds throughout the album all the while reminding the listener of the legendary albums they have released already. Then we hear Aaron's sullen voice that haunting the melodies. It is a perfect accompaniment to this epic performance. MDB is a band that has music that is felt as much as heard. Even with your eyes closed you can see visions that drift along with the violin's melodies. Much like the Raven is a part of Edgar Allen Poe's legend, so is the violin to MDB.
With this album, the band leaves the cerulean, dark grounds to step into more pale, wintry, evening-like realms. It seems to be lighter then others in the line of deathless kings. It doesn't mean of course, that they have changed stylistics. The characteristic melancholia still oozes, trickling into the heart, and the ghost of the bride constantly looms among naked trees, summoned by the clear voices of poet in his bitter pain. Aaron has filled this opus funerali with vulnerable, shady, haunted bemoans, sang with clear, rending voices echoing from where no pleased tranquility shall ever dwell. There are some parts, when the unbearable bereavement grows and finally bursts into tears. The monumental and blackened gives way under tremendously roaring guitars.The haunted voices are but dreadful auras amongst the gathering winds. Still violin resounding in the distant, fading away like a spectre of beautiful death. The guitars last passages underline the end of the album, bringing some energy into this dark dream…and winter night is rocking the dreamer in her arms forevermore.
After listening to the previous album "A Line of Deathless Kings", I desperately missed such cold and austere stories. Finally I am moved by that latest sonic manuscript . I can assure you won't be able to get rid of the feeling, that you want to experience this album again and again.
Personally, I don't need any other piece of music for the upcoming weeks. I bow before the band for this alone.
Band: My Dying Bride
Album: For Lies I Sire
Genre: Doom Metal
Release: 2009
Label: Peaceville
Rating: 5/5
Rapidshare: Here
Torrent: Here
By Bez
