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Mourning Beloveth 'The Sullen Sulcus'

Although Dust being a seriously brilliant album it was only really a local concept but now Mourning Beloveth with The Sullen Sulcus have certainly out Ireland on the Doom map! Heavy and threatening like gluttonous magma , deep guitar sounds drip from the pits which creates a threatening sound full of pain and sadness. The driving metal glacier that is Tim Johnsons background drumming is extraordinary delicate and functions well and sounds original without double bass attacks. With that comes a granite grinding groaning as well as belting clear vocals from the lungs of the two vocalists Darren Moore and Frank Brennan who express the gloomy lyrics perfectly. Mourning Beloveths musical roots stem half from insular doom like My Dying Bride or the early anathema without keyboards, violins or female vocals.

In the complete concentration on the guitar it is evident that Candlemass is the second biggest influence on the Irish lads. However the troupe from counties Kildare and Laois work their source of inspiration into their own individual sound picture, as they are somewhat heavier and more metallic than their Swedish and British neighbours! In exactly the right spots you get spoken passages, talking in chorus, acoustic interludes or irresistible riffs, so that despite the epic song length a suspense factor is always maintained. Producer Magz would not be entirely blameless for it is he who has also toned technically in his Academy studios bands like My Dying Bride and Primordial. The mere anticipation of this young bands next developments is extremely anxiously awaited. I any case The Sullen Sulcus is without doubt the most doomy release of the year.

6/7