| When all the laughter has gone (CD) | 1999 | Wounded Love Records |
As the title of this album suggests, listening to Dolorian makes both corners of your mouth drop towards the ground. There is not a second of sunshine, not a second of hope. A lot of "clean" guitars full of "unclean" effects, desperate screams, dark keyboard work, repetitive song structures and a psychotic atmosphere... this is what Dolorian offers in their debut album.
The words of their label sum up pretty well where Dolorian stands for: "If you like power metal, don't buy this". It's difficult to find out what are the main influences of the band, but one thing is certain: their dark blackdoom is very original.
1. Desolated colours
2. My weary eyes
3. A part of darkness
4. When all laughter has gone
5. Collapsed
6. Fields
7. With scorn
Approx. 53 minutes
| Dolorian (CD) | 2001 | Wounded Love Records |
The main difference with their previous album 'When all the laughter has gone', seems to be the different use of the vocals. This time, the band chose to only use silent whispers, without the harsh, horrifying screams of their first album. This contributes to the creation of an undescribable dark, trance-like atmosphere of utter nihilism and despair. Their typical guitar sound, that bathes in weird echo effects, still distinguishes this band from the rest of the scene.
This is one of those albums that leave you completely emotionally exhausted after each listen, and yet you keep pressing the repeat button over and over again. We dark music fans are such masochists!
1. Grey rain
2. Blue Unknown
3. Hidden/rising
4. Cold/colourless
5. Nails
6. Numb lava
7. Ambiguous ambivalence
8. Seclusion
9. Faces
Approx. 53 minutes
| Shining / Dolorian (7") | 2004 | Unpleasant Wax |
Shining have opted for one of the least original covers as far as classical music is concerned: Chopin's "Marche Funèbre". Like Until Death Overtakes Me, though, they pull it off quite well, albeit in a tempo that is not as crawlingly slow. The drums, bass and rhythm guitars lay a solid base and the keyboard bells provide the melody on top. About halfway into the song the vocals are introduced, after which it picks up again as it began. A short song, but very powerful in its mid-tempo black/doom atmosphere, which benefits much from Chopin's classic melody, however, and less from the band's own merits.
"Ekstasis" showcases what we can expect from Dolorian the coming period, and also what has happened in the past few years. The song was recorded in 2002, so it lies about halfway between 'Dolorian' and the third full length, which will hopefully appear somewhere in 2005. The song sounds familiar in the sense that elements from both previous albums can be heard in it. The overall sound is much thicker and heavier than on the self-titled album, and the vocals are a mix of old and new, as there are whispers and heavily distorted screams. Melodically, the song is a bit of a new direction for the band, as it feels more epic and grand than the older works, and more crushing also. Very entrancing!
This limited to 500 release comes with tasteful purple layout and is highly recommended to any fans of the bands and those who are into black and/or death/doom. Dolorian's effort is the highlight of the 7", and it bodes very well for the band’s future work.
Dolorian:
1. Ekstasis
Shining:
2. Through Corridors Of Oppression
Approx. 10 minutes
| Voidwards (CD) | 2006 | Wounded Love Records |
the words posted here amongst the rest of the review are the solution. they solve the code. the code found on the cover. amongst the transgressing lowercase lyrics the capital letters reach out. it is revealed.
"IN DREAMS I AM WITHOUT BEING. THE SILVERY MOVEMENTS THAT ABSORB THE FIRE FORM THE HORIZON WITHOUT END."
tales of an ultimate journey through darkness. where dispair once was. now there is a ritual passage of the spirit. through the shamanistic beliefs. to the zenith which marks the star over the head. to the nadir which marks the star below the feet. to the ECSTAsy amongst the skull-bearer's dance. to 'The One Whose Name Has No End' of lovecraftian resemblance. to the passages of the unburning fire of the north and the sun. to the buddhisTIC geometric rituals of the mandala. the voyages of the mind.
"THE FLOW OF TEN FIRES. THE LAND REVERSED TOWARDS NADIR. THE ILLUSION SWALLOWED BY THE LUNAR WATER."
'When All The Laughter Has Gone' blends together with 'Dolorian'. a twofold aura. one side relaxed and spaced with echoing simple guitarplay. the void lays ground for the instrumentals. the space holds the key to many of the TRACKS. the other aura impales the calm flow. loud riffage of blackish proportions emanate harshly from the dark conscious. dual black metal screams. intense. cruel. horrifying. unspeakable. through the twofold aura the being awakens.
"UNSEEN PATH OF TIME IMPALES THE SPHERES. THE INMOST VISIONS ARE AWAKENING. APPROACH THE CHAOS."
time passed as the maestros focused on dark industrial/Dark ambient projects. they let Dolorian in peace. from their other journeys they return. matured but the sound of the old resonate deafeningly. the path of Dolorian is grander than the past journeys. the path of the atmospheric spaced doom/black rises towards its zenith.
"AWAKENED O EXISTENCE O O O"
1. Dual - Void - Trident
2. In the Locus of Bone
3. Co-il-lusion
4. Ivory Artery
5. The Flow Of Seething Visions
6. The One Whose Name Has No End
7. The Absolute Halo is Awakening
8. Epoch of Cyclosure
9. The Fire Which Burns Not
10. Raja Naga - Rising
Approx. 65 minutes