Mourning
Beloveth - Dust (Sentinel)
All does not seem to be well in the Mourning Beloveth camp. This has to
be the most doom-laden album I've heard in a long time. A vamped up re-release
of the so-called "Irish Masters of Doom" debut, complete with
a new song from their as yet unreleased second album and an older demo
track, it's serving as a reminder to the deeply depressed that Mourning
Beloveth will soon be returning.
The lead track, 'The Mountains are mine', is a harrowing song. Skilfully
crafted from the harshest slab of doom known to man and perfectly produced
to shine with a dark glow, it sets a standard that most bands would find
difficult to follow. Mourning Beloveth aren't most bands, though, and
the storytelling clean to dirty vocal, gloomy riffs and repeated, yet
shifting musical patterns on show are merely an introduction to what awaits
deeper inside. 'In mourning my days' opens deceptively before lurching
into super-slow doom territory. Once again, the mix of clean and growly
vocals is perfect.
The new track, 'It looked almost human', is a mouth wetting taste of what's
to come. It shows the band's sound has developed slightly and should make
new album, "The sullen suculus" definitely worth waiting for.
The title track is so slow going, you'll nearly feel tempted to give it
a push just to make sure it's still moving. 'Autumnal fires' is a huge
track. A monster that plods slowly along, growling at the shadows. Comparisons
to the Paradise Lost of a few years ago and Cathedral are, of course,
going to arise, but, when you think about who else is making this kind
of noise at present, you soon realise that Mourning Beloveth are at the
top of their game. Album closer, 'Forever lost emeralds', is a masterpiece
of sorrow, self-loathing and despair. A fitting conclusion to the best
dreary album released all year.
Ken McGrath
|