Doomshine

The Piper At The Gates Of Doom

Written by: EW on 31/07/2010 12:07:29

For a while a few years ago I got the feeling doom metal was maybe about to take its place in the proverbial spotlight, at a time when Candlemass were reinvigorated after reformation, Reverend Bizarre were reigning supreme, the likes of Gates of Slumber were heading the underground and in the big leagues Black Sabbath/Heaven & Hell released a stonker of an album in "The Devil You Know". Bolstering this line-up were the Germans Doomshine, essentially a tribute band to the genre but on the basis of 2004's "Thy Kingdoom Come", a pretty faithful and good one at that. Their Solitude Aeturnus-like take on the genre, epitomised unequivocally across every cell of "The Piper At The Gates Of Doom" is an album whose success can only ultimately be judged by the state of the genre around them - good doom times and this is a worthy addition to the genre; lean times and it's an outdated album from a band stuck in the past.

Being more 'follower' than 'leader', anyone who knows epic doom metal but not Doomshine will be delighted, but not surprised, by the contents of album no. 2. In songs like "Sanctuary Demon", "The Crow Pilot" and "Waltzhalla" Doomshine make good by sticking to the true doom template while injecting the tracks with an undertone of classic heavy metal riffing, slowed down to suit the prerequisite classic doom speed. Having taken the slow and lurching style propagated by Candlemass rather than the slooow doom of this writer's personal heroes in Reverend Bizarre, Doomshine offer no grand variation in style or tempo but do possess in Tim Holz a set of lungs well capable of supplying the epic and bringing the sadness as he flourishes in songs like "Cold Cypher Ceven" where he is given plenty of room to display his armoury atop the solid doom riffing behind.

Like Dawn of Winter and Count Raven, Doomshine are a fine doom listen for any occasion with two albums worthy of joining the annals of true doom, but in "The Piper At The Gates Of Doom" the monotone nature begins to wear after 70+ minutes as the feeling of having heard it before becomes too great to ignore. Worry ye not however; recent converts to epic doom will be greatly excited by this album and it is fully worthy of purchase, just after you've stocked your collection with the works of Candlemass and Solitude Aeturnus first.

Download: Cold Cypher Ceven, Sanctuary Demon, Godhunter
For the fans of: Dawn of Winter, Candlemass, Solitude Aeturnus
Listen: Myspace

Release date 02.07.2010
Massacre Records

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