Memory Garden-Mirage (review)

It is when the pure melodies meet the doom riffs, when the harmonies of the solos meet the fellowship of the piano, when someone’s dreams gather and spread towards the sky. I know this is not enough, but I think it is a good prologue in order to describe Memory Garden’s Mirage album.

We shall start from the album’s cover art which prepares you for something pretty, pure, majestic, epic, peaceful, calm and melodic, characteristics which are definitely included in this album but also combined with a “progressive” touch. Twin guitar harmonies, vocal lines out from another dimension, technical drumming and acoustic breaks full of emotions and feelings compose a beautiful atmosphere. An album which forces you to close your eyes, dream and travel through the astral gateways of your imagination. A journey that starts with a “Prologue” and ends with a “Search”. During this, you wish this trip to last forever and unable to admit what you are listening to, the album ends. However, like an addict that has no ability to control his addiction, you put the album to play again. You expect the same feelings to take place but you are absolutely wrong. New experiences are revealed for you to face based on the same nostalgic path that you tried to follow during the first listening. Now melancholy is appeared behind the mist of the massive riffing and a new mournful horizon has been set. You are excited but scared to continue and finally you dare. Another journey through this album has ended again. Although the hope is still not lost and you are prepared for a third journey.

This is Doom Metal. A dark place that no matter how many times you explore, you manage to discover nothing. Then you still wandering around it until the time that you become a total addict to it.

Father Alex

April, 2011

Pylon-Armoury of god (2011) Review

Pylon is a great and special band from Switzerland which has nothing to be jealous and afraid of other great doom metal bands, but still remain in the underground. But who cares about that? Maybe it is better, because this special and unique performance of doom metal is not for everyone.

Thus, Pylon, 2 years after the successful third album titled “Doom”, they moved into a new masterpiece called “Armoury of God”. So, the combination of epic and traditional doom metal elements continues, along with haunting vocals and lyrics concerning Christianity which gives Pylon a very special, characteristic and also personal sound. Long songs with both slow and up tempo moments, amazing twin guitar melodies and skull crushing solos which complete the sentences performed by the heavy riffing. Also, acoustic guitar parts along with creepy keys in the background, synthesize something difficult to describe through words. According to my opinion is the best occasion for a band to take advantage of their influences and add a steady and characteristic personal touch. Their personal style is consecutively being respected and likeable from their gift to fulfill their enormous and heavy riffs by mystical twin guitars and adorable vocals. This creates a delightful but also mourning atmosphere which charms you.

To say the truth, “Armoury of God” and general most of Pylon’s releases, are not easy to listen. I could say that it is more difficult to understand the things that they offer through their music. But, as along as someone becomes familiar with their sound and personal style and adopts their philosophy, I am absolutely sure that he will love them.

It would be unfair to contrast “Armoury of God” with their previous album, because both of them are masterpieces. Although both of the albums are in the same style, I should say that in the last one we can listen to something “more”. Maybe it is the maturity and the musical progress of the band or I don’t know what! The only thing that I know for sure is that songs like “The First Church”, “Gravestar”, “Hollow Sky”, “Hunter Angels”, “In Serpent Tongues” and “Somewhere In Nowhere”, are rare to find nowadays and they worth attention if we want to persist supporting Doom Metal.

I will close this review by thanking Pylon once again for the moments that share with us through their music. Doom metal needs not only pure melodies but also pure hearts.

Father Alex, April 2011