Debut full-length album by Canadian Epic Doom Metal band.
The bunch of the Canadians of Dark Covenant, of French origin, attempted to create, along with emotions, the same sensation of classic Doom Metal as it was portrayed in the 80s. With their debut album, "Eulogies For The Fallen", via their French label of Emanes Metal Records, another Doom Metal monster brought the classic stuff back to life.
The 70s version of Black Sabbath mixed with the early to mid 80s of Candlemass is quite something for this band. Besides being gloomy and dreary as most of the Doom Metal material of the 80s, Dark Covenant shared a bit more than the average Doom band. Vjohrrnt Wodansson is without doubt a very good singer with a strong voice that's perfect for this kind of Doom Metal. He has the passionate voice of the Marcolin. What we get here is a very decent portion of Epic Doom Metal. It does a good job; "Eulogies For The Fallen" are pretty solid. The album's production is quite raw, but not Ildjarn or Wormphlegm raw. All instruments are clear and audible, but the sound is far from polished. A song that best summarizes the album is "A Broken Sword Reforged" - it has everything a doom fan could hope for. Great, heavy riffs, ponderous rhythms, interesting mood changes and very melodic vocal lines. Nothing surprising, nothing new, but still quite fun to listen to.
There has been no shortage of new Doom bands the last few years, many of them traditional in focus, but not many full blown epic, and rarely indeed, Epic Doom of this quality, the kind that has a truly rousing and awe inspiring sound. It’s only a matter of time before they reach the Doom Gods status!
Highly recommended for fans of Solitude Aeturnus, Forsaken and Candlemass!!
Emanes Metal Records, 2011 (METAL023). Made in France. Pressed in Germany.
Tracklist:
1. The End-Time Congregation (Intro) 1:40
2. Forever Amongst The Ruins 5:47
3. Visions Of Salvation 6:22
4. Ascension Denied 7:30
5. Black Raven 4:10
6. Perennial Solitude 5:11
7. Black Sun Rising 6:44
8. A Broken Sword Reforged 7:49
9. Dirgevows (Outro) 1:50
Total playing time: 47:03
Samples:
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