EXTORIAN

German female vocal-led melodic doom metal with sublime slowness and flesh-creeping vocal melodies; so the press release tantalises. Sounds enticing does it not? To be fair, it’s not an entirely unrealistic description of Extorian’s music, but I was expecting so much more from this CD. With a hefty sludgy slow doom feel throughout, it has a particularly traditional doom metal feeling, with obligatory elements of early Sabbath and Candlemass. Instrumentally, it is far from unique and, being in the doom genre, I guess there’s only so many ways you can make a limited number of notes sound interesting, but the muddy production on all the instruments really doesn’t do it any favours at all, and this linked with the unimaginative and generally monotonous guitar lines don’t do a great deal to keep you interested. The album is somewhat saved though by the powerful, haunting vocals of Heike Funke, partially reminiscent of Agnete from Madder Mortem, but lacking her finesse and effortless vocal power. Whilst vocal discordancy easily works with this style, there are times when you do get the sense that either the vocals are slightly off-key in places and that the vocal-vibrato is just a little too forced and that the vocal line would be better off just sung straight. Whilst, even after quite a few listens, it doesn’t make for an especially memorable listen, ‘Black Sand’ and ‘Dying Inside’ stand out a mile from the rest of the album, musically and vocally, and give the release a much needed lift. One for the dedicated doom metal fan.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Rockwerk Records

Album

TRUTH & SILKY RAGS OF CANT

Review by Hannah Sylvester

RUNNING TIME:

63:38

RELEASE DATE:

15th Sept 2010

TRACK LISTING

1) As You Are As You Were
2) Down In The Shadow
3) Guardian Of Man’s Fear
4) Black Sand
5) January
6) Paralyzed Mind
7) Dying Inside
8) Vale of Wounds
9) 40 White Mice At The Pearly Gates Of Doom

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Germany

"One for the dedicated doom metal fan."