Review Summary: Unoriginal, but highly enjoyable.
The Loss of Beauty is not characterized by greatness, that’s too early to say. However, one of the influences in their sound is the very definition of consistent greatness, and I am referring to Amorphis. Similarly, we should not take for granted that it was easy for the Italians to incorporate those elements to their music and come up with something not overly distinctive, but personal. Shores of Null’s fourth LP is remarkable for an array of reasons. To begin with, they have crafted a highly emotional album that will appeal to both seasoned gothic/doom listeners and casual fans. The reason for that is the meticulous and varied songwriting. Besides the aforementioned influence, one can also spot mid-era Opeth (opening riff of “Old Scars”) as well as Insomnium in some of the heavier parts. Throughout the album, there is a great sense of melody that owes a lot on the memorable vocal lines, combined with the characteristically irresistible late-Amorphis sense of urgency that drives every song. Talented singer Davide Straccione’s cleans bring to mind Tomi Joutsen, while his growls provide the necessary heaviness. The outcome of all the above is a highly melodic, melancholic but uplifting experience.
One thing that is noteworthy, is that
The Loss of Beauty was written and recorded from 2017 to 2019, which makes it more of a continuation of the first two LPs. So if
Beyond the Shores (On Death and Dying) is your favourite Shores of Null, you might be unpleasantly surprised. Additionally, the extremely strong Amorphis vibes, especially in the vocals department, might not sit too well with some listeners who tend to look for more originality. Lastly, the formula remains unchanged for most of the album, as it consists of mid-tempo tracks; more variety on vocals like on “A New Death is Born” or in the songwriting would help. As a result of the above, the replay value of the album might be impacted, after the initial enthusiasm subsides.
Nevertheless, all the above can’t take away the fact that Shores of Null’s latest release is a very enjoyable listen for anyone who loves this doom/melodeath/gothic amalgam. For all those who think that this is an easy task, please remember not to take quality for granted.
