REVIEWS
UNDER A TORN SKY. REVIEWS 1.
TEMPLE OF DOOM (PT)
http://metalexperiences.blogspot.com/search?q=UNSILENCE
The British Unsilence already walking around here since 1993 but his career
has been so fickle, so turbulent, with frequent changes of line up, the
output of this work seem the result of a colossal stubbornness. This long
dista 11 years of his predecessor, "Choirs Of Memory", and later
released two EPs. Then silence, long ...
A reformulated Unsilence resurface in 2006 with the demo "Echoes
Awaken," which functioned as re-presentation of the band and the
three themes that emerge Delam contained in this release.
Underpin the foundations of doom melodic and epic, this quartet carries
within it the many collective British, but mostly English, load, or anguish
and pain that seems to be characteristic for the island of His Majesty,
and so well that they based.
These qualities / virtues in this context are well mirrored in the guitar
work and voice of James Kilmurray (with some similarities to Chris Goss
of Masters Of Reality), embedded in a competent and rhythmic base that
makes this "Under The Torn Sky launching a line of reference in the
melodic doom metal this year 2009. (14/20)
OBLIVEON (GER) http://www.obliveon.de/pn-om/modules.php?op=modload&name=tplhome&file=index&req=showcontent&id=14542
Of all the releases that I have discussed recently by Psychedoomelic,
this is my favorite, because he is 100% true to my musical taste. Epischer
Doom mit wundervollen, melancholischen Momenten, erstklassigen Melodien,
tollen Riffs und einem perfekt dazu passenden, klarem Gesang. Epic doom
with a wonderful, melancholic moments, excellent melodies, great riffs
and a perfect matching, clear vocals. Keine Frage, die langen Jahre des
Wartens auf den ersten Longplayer - in den 17 Jahren (!) des Bestehens
gab es zahlreiche Demos, zwei Mini-CDs und gar ein unveröffentlichtes
Album, da das damalige Label Pleite ging – haben sich für Band
und Käufer von „Under A Torn Sky“ ausgezahlt. No question,
the long years of waiting for the first long player - in the 17 years
(!) Announced the existence, there are numerous demos, two mini-CDs, and
even an unreleased album, as the former label went bankrupt - have decided
to band and buyers of "Under A Torn Sky paid. Unsilence bieten auf
den acht Stücken großes Kopfkino und lassen den Hörer
mit traurigen Melodien und packenden Gesangseinlagen sowie zahlreichen
Akustik-Passagen in einer Traumwelt versinken, wie es britische Doomsters
seit Solstice wohl nicht mehr geschafft haben. Unsilence offer to the
eight large pieces of cinema head and let the listener with mournful melodies
and haunting vocals deposits, and many acoustic passages are sinking into
a dream world, as has been done since British doomsters Solstice not anymore.
Aber genug der Worte, ich kann euch dieses Album nur ans Herz legen, kaufen
müsst ihr es schon selbst! http://www.myspace.com/unsilence ; http://www.psychedoomelic.com
But enough words, I'll put my heart, this album just to buy, you have
it for yourself!
METAL INTEGRAL (FR)
http://www.metal-integral.com/chronique.do
The bias of this British quartet is practicing a doom metal classic, clear,
naturally lyrical and dark at once, with the main feature of voice clear.
Which are insured by guitarist James KILMURRAY. Suffice to say that UNSILENCE
did not choose the easiest way for this first album, the vocals clear
music as slow and stately lyric that means doom metal highly rigorous
discipline and a proven ability to take melodic lines. When success is
the appointment, the result is simply spectacular: CANDLEMASS, SOLITUDE
AETURNUS or WHILE HEAVEN WEPT are vivid evidence. For
hours, UNSILENCE will be hard to claim the same level of excellence, primarily
because of this song, often haunting lyric that, sometimes at the limit
of accuracy when it comes to pushing the voice . Nevertheless, this singer
and guitarist manages to create the climate Vocally desolate and desperate
that worked better, might make a certain effect. At
instrumentally, things are much more solid, though very traditional. A
great rhythm section strongly supports the slow tempi (obviously) and
the two guitarists compete for heavy riffs and solos very well constructed
and melodic wish. The melodic aspect is also a definite asset, like the
beautiful acoustic introduction of The Hour of Arrival. End flat, the
sound is rough (which is not necessarily bad) but the mix is a bit rough.
Clearly
, UNSILENCE still needs work but the intentions are laudable.
DOOMMANTIA (USA) http://www.doommantia.com/2010/06/unsilence-under-torn-sky-updated-review.html
Before i ever got a copy of Unsilence's, "Under A Torn Sky"
album, Iread somewhere that the album is merely a copy of Warning's masterpiece
"Watching For A Distance" album but i was hopeful that was just
some narrow-minded viewpoint from a reviewer with a axe to grind. I am
happy to say that reviewer is way off, sure they are a little like Warning
but whats wrong with being like a killer band anyway. Putting all that
aside though, what you are left with is still a killer album despite the
comparisons. The album begins with "The Last Day song" which
was also on a demo they brought out some 3 years ago called "Echoes
Awaken", you would think some new material would be in order but
never-mind because it is still a good track. Its a mid-tempo track with
vocal melodies that are very much the trademark of the album, the song
has some real depth of musicianship. There is also a lot of polish in
the playing and the recording of the songs, that sets them apart from
Warning but its also the main stumbling block for doom fans. This amount
of polish is rare for a doom album and it takes away some of the raw heaviness
that this band could be capable of producing.
As the album progresses, you get a sense of mid 90's goth-metal especially in the track "The Burning Midnight" were the rhythm section really drives the song along. The song is a little like newer While Heaven Wept material in part but also has a element of freshness to it made courtesy of the stellar rhythm section. "Transfiguration" is an apocalyptic Doom track with one of the strongest songwriting moments of the album, based around guitar melodies and leads rather than riffs it has some twists and turns closer to progressive rock than traditional doom and yet still sounds very dark and heavy. "Barricade" is another track from the Echoes Awaken demo and here its given some new life, sorrowful leads, guitar melodies and some kick ass heavy riffing. "Echoes Awaken" is dark and esoteric with deep melodies that make you listen and keep you mesmerized. This song captures the true sound of Unsilence, emotional, melancholic, multi-layered and dynamic but is it really doom or even metal? At times it had me wondering. "Of What May Become" heads off into a almost jazz-rock take on doom metal with complex interplay between melodies and the rhythmic structure of the song.
"The Hour of Arrival"
follows and is even more complex, it begins with a wonderful acoustic
intro before a series of break-downs, various melodic themes and guitar
leads. It is pretty hard to describe where this fits in within the doom
metal genre as this could almost be considered pop-music with its melodic
hooks. The next song is even more hard to describe, the final track "Winds
of Enlightenment" is a nine minute epic where the band gets the closet
to raw traditional doom metal than anywhere else on the album. There is
more aggression and raw guitar passages making this worth your wait. The
song is adventurous but listen to the whole track because the last minute
or so is one of the most mind-blowing parts of the album, it builds to
a giant crescendo and is rounded off with acoustic guitar and more great
vocals. "Under A Torn Sky" can be listened to in 2 ways, you
can get obsessed with superficial comparisons or you can judge it on its
own merits. Personally i prefer the later approach so on that basis i
hear what is a very good album. The review i read comparing them to Warning
is accurate in a lot of ways but this album also stands up on its own,
they push the boundaries of what is epic-doom and do a exciting job of
it. The casual listener of doom metal may miss its hidden treasures but
its worth checking out, so don't let this one pass you by. 8.5/10
Review by Ed Barnard. earthdog@doommantia.com