Ashen Mortality
Sleepless Remorse
Reviewed by Tom Edmondson
I eagerly sought this disc because I think Seventh Angel's Lament For The Weary is one of the best Metal albums ever. After the demise of that band I felt a little "sleepless remorse" myself, you know. However, when I heard of the formation of AM by Ian Arkley I had hope again. Usually you expect a new project to progress more towards commercialism than the previous band. That is not the case with Ashen Mortality. What we have here is heavier and rawer than Lament For The Weary, though it is much more like Seventh Angel's first album, The Torment. The best point of musical comparison, however, is the early musical releases of English Gothic/Death/Doom bands like Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride. I am most reminded of Paradise Lost's Gothic album. Many of the same elements exist, namely keyboards and the supplemental female vocals. The songs are also lengthy and cover such issues as loneliness/aging, abortion and spiritual concerns. But let me warn you: this is a "grow on you" kind of disc. You start out liking it okay then it grows on you. After it grows on you it'll be a regular part of your diet.
Other coverage for this album
Garlic Press #6Reviewed by UnknownIan Arkley and wife Melanie Sarah Bolton have pooled their individual talents creating a masterpiece. This is an anthology of 2 demos which have been re-recorded and superbly produced. They hybridize contrasting sounds and styles. Ian's death metal growls vs. M.S.B.'s angelic voice; guttural doom guitar vs. atmospheric goth synth. Medieval, classical, gtr all are intermingled in progressive,…