| Methods To Madness (Demo) | 2004 | None |
For those who have heard Funerary Dirge, Matt's most well-known project, the music is easily recognizable. The atmosphere is more oppressive than the utterly depressive Funerary Dirge, though. This particular Dusk Ov Shadows demo is also more experimental than Funerary Dirge. Actually the name of the demo, 'Methods To Madness', is a reflection of the experiments taking place in the music. A reflection of wandering along the thin line between madness and genious. The later Dusk Ov Shadows works have definitely benefited from this research demo.
For those who are unfamiliar with this kind of music, you can expect long, dark dirges and low rumbling growls. Faint synths play in the background, creating a vast void effect. And a piano appears from time to time to add a little melodic interlude. This mixture of dark ambient and funeral doom brings you through a very lonely and lamenting journey. It's definately music which is not meant to be enjoyed in the company of others.
For those who really like Funerary Dirge then this is really something to check out. Fans of Until Death Overtakes Me should check it out as well. However, those who primarily enjoy riffing doom should steer clear of this.
1. Intro
2. Funeral Winds
3. Given Nothing
4. The Temptress
5. An End To Agony
6. Fade Into A Dream (Instrumental)
7. Outro
Approx. 36 minutes
| Death As A Saviour (Demo) | 2004 | None |
The similarities between the two bands is still striking however. Especially because of the minimalistic piano. And despite being a harsher release than 'Methods To Madness', it's surprisingly peaceful. This fits the name of the demo very well. 'Death As A Saviour' is another way of saying that sometimes the only way to find comfort is after life has passed. But as always, death as well as the demo, are quite a sombre experience. It's not something you want to sit down and take your life to, but it's really hard to keep a good mood while listening to this.
'Death As A Saviour' is even more minimalistic than it's predecessor 'Methods To Madness', but is still clearly a result of the experimentations that took place in it. The slow dirges and the aforementioned piano is still present in much the same way that it was before. Slow, lamenting and sometimes quite cold.
As with most of Matt Zuchowski's releases, this is out for free on the net together with the previous demo: http://www.soundclick.com/duskovshadows. Anyone into ambient funeral doom would do well to check this out. It's seldom that you get good releases for free you know.
1. Nightmare (intro)
2. A Pure Form Of Agony
3. The Slumbering Forest
4. Contempt (part I)
5. The Silent, And The Dead
6. Contempt (part II)
Approx. 35 minutes
| Ashen Angels (Demo) | 2005 | None |
Matt Zuchowski (as I've mentioned in the previous reviews, is the man behind the project) has outdone himself on this one. Particularly on the third track; 'Ashen Angels'. The simple notes on the piano are put together to create the most perfect feeeling of silent depression that I have heard to this day. Coming across a piece where every note lands in just about the perfect spot is indeed a rarity, and indeed I know nothing is perfect, but this time I'm tempted to say that it is.
The rest of the album has a high standard as well, although it has no chance of beating 'Ashen Angels'. The standard dirge of Dusk Ov Shadows has grown a bit fuller and much less ambient compared to the previous two demos. The music has also successfully seperated itself from Funerary Dirge, another project by mr Zuchowski, which Dusk Ov Shadows has thus far sounded a bit too similar to for comfort. Now it might just as well be compared to a more depressing version of Skepticism.
What is so unique about the new sound of Dusk Ov Shadows is that instead of creating soul tormenting despair like so many other doom metal bands do, 'Ashen Angels' creates an aura that allows you to both contemplate about yourself, and most uniquely, to sit down and cry the pain away. There aren't many doom metal bands that make music like that. This is really a reccommended listening for all the depressed doom fans out there.
1. Tapestry Of Woe
2. March Of The Lament
3. Ashen Angels
4. Atonement
5. Death's Desire
6. Emptiness
Approx. 70 minutes