| Fall Of The Idols (MCD) | 2004 | None |
This EP has a nice blend of styles in its five tracks... they tend to range from mid-tempo, rockers, to somewhat gothic sounding slabs of doom. Indeed, third track, 'Lament' reminded me quite heavily of mid-period My Dying Bride, especially in the guitar riffing. Of course, it is also very evident that the similarity is just a coincidence, and not a sign of influence. Other than that, I could hear a very strong Mirror Of Deception influence, with epic moments that remind very much of Candlemass.
It is very evident that Fall Of The Idols are influenced by the 80s traditional doom masters. What is nice about them, however, is that they manage to blend all of these influences, without sounding like a 'paint by number' version of these bands. All of the songs on this EP stand on their own. Fans of epic, and traditional doom should certainly give Fall Of The Idols a listen. For more information, please see: www.falloftheidols.tk
1. Vile Matters
2. Burnt
3. Lament
4. Crawl Back In My Hole
5. Flowers
Approx. 22 minutes
| Agonies Be Thy Children (Demo) | 2005 | None |
Having said that, "Agonies Be Thy Children" does seem to be a slightly safer, though still very interesting, demo. The touch of bands such as Black Sabbath, Solitude Aeturnus, and Candlemass are much more evident here, than they were in their last, self-titled, effort. The music does have a bit more of an epic feel to it this time around, especially when it comes to the vocals, and the guitars. The bass guitar seems to be featured more prominently here, as well... especially in the third track, "The Walk"... it has an almost trip-hop feel to it, very mesmerizing, with the repeating riff, and the vocals over top of it.
This is one of the things which I like about Fall Of The Idols: They're not afraid to experiment with quirky little things here and there that make you sit up and think "whoa, neat!". The thing is, though, that they are able to pull all of this off, while still staying planted firmly in the traditions of doom metal. Nobody can accuse them of forgetting their roots... but one can't accuse them of just regurgitating the greats, either.
You know, after listening to this demo on repeat, I have to say, this is really quite gloomy, and cold sounding. I usually only expect this feeling from some of the best funeral doom bands out there, but I'll be damned if "Agonies Be Thy Children" doesn't achieve that same bleak, and empty feeling one gets from listening to Until Death Overtakes Me, or Reclusiam (now there are some bands I'm sure nobody would expect to read in this review!). Indeed, this demo is something which will interest more than one kind of doom fan. If you like your doom gloomy, and at the same time epic sounding (go figure, but yes, it's all here), then you can't go wrong with this demo.
...and to think, this demo doesn't even last thirty minutes. What a shame. Which leaves me with one more thing: Someone sign these guys! Please! ...and make them record a full length! I don't want any more demos. I want 70 minutes of Fall Of The Idols, and I want it to doom me for all eternity!
1. Halls Of The Forgotten
2. Agonies Be Thy Children
3. The Walk
4. Beneath The Burning Sun
Approx. 27 minutes
| The Womb Of The Earth (CD) | 2006 | I Hate |
For those who are familiar with the music of the Finnish Doomsters, I guess that the words are useless. Simply because Fall Of The Idols in this full length release presents the same qualified, inspired and to the point pure Doom Metal like their older releases. But if this full length CD will be the first one that someone would hear from this band, I guess that I have to analyze some things a little more.
Fall of the Idols play riff based, heavy Pure Doom Metal. Their characteristic riffing built in slow doomy tempos is the first musical element that someone will realize. Now someone may ask: “What else do some good doom riffs need in order to complete the puzzle of a good Doom song?” Well the answer is simple, first of all a solid and heavy as hell rhythm section is important. Yes Fall of the Idols has it, drums and bass are simply the heaviest that you can imagine. The vocals are of course are a very important part of any good Doom song (maybe the most important?). Well the vocals in here are one of the most characteristic elements of the final puzzle: foggy, haunted vocals in polyphonic lines that give this characteristic final touch to the songs. Of course they are melodic but they carry something strange, something that will make you love or hate this band. Maybe it's the polyphonic structure of the vocal lines (two or more voices in almost every part of the song), but I can assure you that the vocals fit very well into the whole atmosphere of the album. If you still want to learn about the lead guitar themes of the songs included in this full length, because some may point out that the solos are also important in a good Doom song, I can assure you that they also fit perfectly with the whole haunted background of the album and that they are used to give more heaviness and more atmosphere in the songs.
Well, I really have nothing more to write. If you are into pure Doom Metal, then this record is a fucking must: haunted, foggy atmosphere, hellish heavy riffing, obscure vocal lines and heaviness, ultra fucking HEAVINESS. Those are the elements that you will find in here. All hail to Pure Doom Metal!
1. Sown Are The Seeds Of Doom
2. Atonement For The One
3. The Grand Act
4. Agonies Be Thy Children
5. Keep Wandering The Night
6. Ungodly Thirteen
7. The Walk
8. The Pathway
Approx. 65 minutes