Persian doom metal veterans Melancholica have just released their brand new and first full-length album titled “Lamentations of a deprived desire”. Project leader and main-man Afshin Effati was kind enough to provide me with a copy and asked me for a review of the album which I will gladly provide.
First of all, let us begin by introducing the band to those who do not know them. Melancholica are one of the few doom metal bands to rise from Iran, consisted of main member Afshin Effati and drummer Farhad Zabolipour. Over the years, they have grown into an international act, working with musicians from across the world and thus creating a unique collaboration. Their first video single of a Saturnus cover song quickly became popular amongst fans of underground music and thus tightened the band’s ties with members of Saturnus. Their second video single featuring guest vocalist Cain called “Territory Of Sorrow” received airplay from various TV stations, providing yet more fame for the band.
Fast forward to 2012, which saw the band’s first release as a collective, supported by independent label “Rigorism”. “Lamentations” is a unique album, and because of it begin unique, many people will not understand it. This is not an album for the faint-hearted. This is not a style that everyone can understand and enjoy. I believe that this piece of art will be understood only by fans, whose ears are trained for material like this. I will begin my review by introducing the track-list and reviewing the album track by track. I will try to refrain from very complex and theoretical reviews as the purpose of this review is to introduce the band, their style and features of their album. I will then proceed to review other things as well, such as the production of the sound, the lyrical aspect of the album and the cover art that has been chosen. I hope this provides what Afshin asked from me.
Before I start, I would like to mention that as a doom metal fanatic, I do not consider this record a doom metal album. The music made by Melancholica is more Ambient and Experimental than Doom Metal. I recommend that the band, if they so choose to call themselves doom metal, refrain from using the title to avoid confusion and backlash from the fans.
There are overall 14 tracks on the album and around 60 minutes of music. I will go through the tracks one by one and say what I think about each one. As mentioned earlier, I have decided not to dissect the theory of music. This is just a list of introductions, constructive criticisms and recommendations.
Track 1: Angel Of Distress (Ft. Fabio Amurri Of Crysalys)
Angel Of Distress serves as an intro to the album and is also the first track to feature a guest musician. Being less than two minutes long, this track incorporates influences from Ambient and Electronic music, adding a unique effect to the track. This track was well fit to become the intro.
Track 2: Dark Fortress (With Marco Cerbella)
The second track of the album, also my second favorite track from the whole album, is also a collaboration with a foreign artist. If I were to describe it, I would say it is a heavier, more depressive version of the soundtrack to the movie "Requiem For A Dream". Starting off with an Ambient section, the track quickly ascends into a chaotic, yet beautiful mixture of what appears to be distorted sounds of Cellos and Violins, something which has been done for the first time in Iran. A great way to start the album.
Track 3: Goddess Of Darkness
This track is the first track not to feature a guest musician. Starting off with melodic sounds of violin, we soon hear the sound of the drums for the first time in the album, and if my ears are not mistaken, faint sounds of percussion as well. The vocals are mostly spoken and whispered, rather than sang and sound as suggested by the track title. I do however, believe that this track could have been longer and had more room to expand, allowing other instruments to play a role on their own.
Track 4: Sorrow's Creation (Ft. Jaime Aguilera of Metalcoholica)
This is the track which shows that this album is not for the faint-hearted, nor for those who enjoy a vast majority of technique in their music, not that this song is void of technique. What appears to happen, is a constant streaming of a chord of strings, a weird sound effect and what appears to be a guitar with a wah-wah effect. Minimalist motives are easily identified in this piece. At the end of the track, around the time frame of 4:07-4:10 I heard what I thought was an out-of-place note played on the guitar. But perhaps that is just my ears playing tricks on me!
Track 5: Oath To Darkness
The whole atmosphere of this track is very much similar to the track before it. So similar in fact, that you do not realize the tracks have changed. In addition to the piano, we also hear the clear sound of string instruments in this track. Vocals are also whispered in a distorted manner, almost like black metal spoken poetry. After a good doze of minimalism, around 02:34, we are greeted with small melodies played on the piano, almost like a children's rhyme song. This is then followed by another doze of minimalism, which makes the track longer than its older siblings.
Track 6: Sorrow Is Begun
Sorrow begins with sounds of thunder, waking you up from the somber mood of the songs heard before and giving you a small boost. While minimalism is still going strong, we witness sounds of what seems to be a clean electric guitar, as the vocals spit out the darkness inside the composer's mind. A more doomish track as opposed to the ambient-influenced songs before. The only thing which I didn't enjoy about the track, is the sound of the violin played at a high pitch towards the end of the track. The sound is somewhat higher than the other instruments and therefore sounds out-of-place and played in the wrong key to the untrained ear.
Track 7: Ignorance
Track 7 was for me, not really a separate track. It was more of an intro for the next track, Territory Of Sorrow. What it sounded like was something right out of a Silent Hill game and I really did not make a connection with it as I did with the other tracks.
Track 8: Territory Of Sorrow (Ft. Cain)
Starting off right after track 7, you do not even realize this is a separate track. Territory Of Sorrow is the first single composed by the band which was also released a video and got airplay on certain channels. It is a track which was confusing for a lot of people since they had not heard anything like it before. It is filled with sounds of the organ, frantic solos of violin and the brutal agonized screams and growls of guest vocalist Cain. For a person with no experience in minimalist music, this track may seem boring and of poor taste. It is a good thing that the band decided to add an alternate version as a bonus track for other fans as well.
Track 9: Gravestone Of Desire (Ft. Jouni Nikula Of Requiem)
Wow wow wow...This is my favorite track from this album. Wonderful choice of vocals, this is the closest song to the doom metal genre. The vocal lines, both main and harmony, are very well recorded and placed. The drums to a wonderful job and keyboard and guitar solos towards the end are just simply amazing. The best track from this album for me for sure. The lyrics are also quite haunting.
Track 10: Love Is A Way To Die
This track is the second track to feature clean vocals after Gravestone Of Desire. The vocals are female. I have no idea whether the vocalist is from Iran or another place but if she is from Iran, then I have to applaud her for correct spelling of English words since it is a very rare thing to get these days in Iran. Also a good track.
Track 11: Wail My Sorrow (Call Me)
Wail My Sorrow could have been a much better track in my opinion. And this is of course, MY opinion. It is a mellow track, and I think if instead of using the now predictable whispered vocals, they put clean and melodic vocals, the track would have been a lot better. Again, my idea!
Track 12: Letting The Cables Sleep (Bush Cover)
I think it is odd to end the album with a cover track, but the band did it anyway. This is a darker, more sinister rendition of Bush's Letting The Cables Sleep. Again on this track, I'd rather hear the vocalist from "Gravestone Of Desire" than semi-harsh vocals. Beside the two Bonus Tracks, this track officially ends the first chapter in the hopefully long history of Melancholica.
Bonus Tracks:
1-Those Whose Face Hath Felt The Winter's Wind (Sun Of The Sleepless Cover)
This track is a rendition of Empyrium's main man's side project Sun Of The Sleepless. Although changed in certain places, this song is a better rendition than Bush's cover in my opinion.
2-Territory Of Sorrow (With Drums) (Ft. David Folchitto of Stormlord)
This is the track that I mentioned earlier. The adding of drums to this woeful and minimal track, gives it more pace and makes it easier for the listener to digest the music. Excellent drum-work on this track.
