Cryptal Darkness
They Whispered You Had Risen (CD) 1999 Icon Records
When I first put this CD on I was astonished, the absolutely brilliant intro 'Always, Forever' almost had to me tears, so mournful, so sad. But the amazement quickly ended when the first real song started. I almost wanted to scream out in anger: "No, not another My Dying Bride clone!! Nooo!". Because that is what is offered here: low tuned guitars, melancholic vocals and an eerie violin all like My Dying Bride. The well played death/doom on this album shows that these guys have a lot of talent, but the similarities to My Dying Bride are so obvious that it keeps bugging me throughout the entire album. Perhaps it is because Martin Powell, previously of My Dying Bride fame, plays the violin and keyboard parts, but its more than just his contribution. This album however is far from bad and I would recommend it to any die hard MDB fan. Just don't be expecting anything overly original.	1. Always, Forever 2. They Whispered You Had Risen 3. To Blackened Skies I Suffer 4. All That Remains 5. Naked She Lay to the Virgin Snow 6. I Bleed 7. Last Embrace 8. A Dream unremebered Approx. 57 minutes
Reviewed by: Aldo Quispel