Embracing the current download marketplace can set up an audience when a band reaches for a record contract. So I’m thankful to check out this Spanish melodic death metal band’s previous self-released “Descent” album from 2007 as well as the follow up “Dark Chamber Litanies” EP in 2009 prior to writing about this second album from Dawn Of Tears. The band embodies catchy guitar refrains and gains most of its melodic aspects through the musical components- as a majority of the vocals are in the harsh/ extreme variety.
Occasional atmospheric/ gothic keyboard elements creep in to the quintet’s sound- the opening riffs for “A Cursed Heritage” for instance remind me of older Evergrey before the pace picks up into familiar Dark Tranquility strains. The follow up “Present of Guilt” has a commercial anthem template, the groove and electronic nuances in line with Eternal Tears Of Sorrow and classic latter day Sentenced – a beautiful slower dual harmonic lead break from J.L. Trebol and J. Nivea capturing my ears the most in a positive way.
Overall I love the charging steamroller action juxtaposing against these gothic/ atmospheric verses for “Lament of Madeleine” and the closing melodic death bliss of “Prize Denied” where the keyboards and guitars form a cultural European symbiosis next to the J. Alonso word throat lobbies. The musical chemistry and knowledge for pushing arrangements forward as well as when to let certain song segments breathe proves Dawn Of Tears are not newcomers to this craft- and deserve praise and attention for creating some killer songs in the process.
Those who love the mid 1990’s melodic death metal movement with harsh vocals will be head over heels with “Act III: The Dying Eve”. I’m hopeful for a long productive career from these gentlemen.
Matt Coe, HMS
msc2471@comcast.net
Older reviews