Review Summary: An intriguing slice of melodic doom
Featuring a who’s who of Texan groups like Destroyer of Light, Temptress, and Monte Luna, Slumbering Sun’s full-length debut is some intriguing melodic doom. The rhythms operate at a near constant crawl, the vocals convey mourning in an Ozzy-esque wail with occasional backing, and the guitars maintain a consistently dreamlike aura whether incorporating crushing heaviness or gentle acoustics. Comparisons could be made to the melancholic templates of groups like Pallbearer and Solemn Lament though one can always trace a silver lining of hope throughout.
The songwriting isn’t necessarily catchy in the traditional sense, but the five tracks come out memorable in their labyrinthine structures. The opening “Morgenrote” is admittedly a hurdle with its staggering twelve-minute length, but “Liminal Bridges” follows it up with a much leaner runtime and a driving pace. “Dream Snake” might be the track most inclined to traditional doom sensibilities courtesy of its winding riff set.
Going deeper, “Love in a Fallen World” and the closing title track make for the most cathartic tracks as their gradual climbs allow for effectively emotional outpourings. It’s an especially notable flex for the latter song to pull off those “na-na-na” vocal segment at the halfway point with such serenity, but the acoustic melody at the end makes for a glorious comedown.
Overall, Slumbering Sun makes a compelling first impression with The Ever-Living Fire. While the album may take an extra listen to wrap one’s head around it, I can appreciate how the group’s more emotional angle stays engaging throughout. It’s got enough light to keep from feeling too overbearing and the heaviness has an almost relaxing aura to it. A worthy atmospheric work whether you’re head-hanging along or just letting it wash over you.
