| To All I Hated (Mcd) | 2002 | Nocturnal Music |
My Shameful are a two-piece death/doom band hailing from the depths of Finland. Having recorded three demos in 2000, 'To All I Hated' was finally released in 2002 by Nocturnal Music, and is yet another modern doom masterpiece that I would advise to any death/doom fanatic, or anyone fond of woeful, extreme music for that matter.
Something worth considering first is that My Shameful, with the exception of the 'borrowing' of bass player Janne Marttila on their first demo release, 'Your dark overwhelming', are only made up of two people, Sami Rautio and Harri Jussila. On this record, both men perform the vocals, a painful yet pleasant concoction of screams and growls, eternally melancholic and crushing guitaring, and bowel-wobbling bass work, with Sami providing the programming, and I presume those (surprisingly impressive) electronic drums. Now, as skilful as you are, it is difficult to match multiple-member releases with just two contributors, but nevertheless, Rautio and Jussila do a fine job, and you could be easily fooled into thinking the band had many more performers in their ranks (In fact, I won't fail to mention that this release is, to me, a much finer example of musicianship and quality than a certain nine-membered masked band.) The only problem is, unless there was more 'borrowing' of musicians, live shows will be impossible. A shame, but that's not what I am reviewing...
The demo is made up of four compositions averaging around 9 minutes in length, and weighs in at 33 minutes and 31 seconds overall, so My Shameful, like many a doom band, don't lack length in their songs. And, like many a doom band, if you pay the record enough attention, it can drag you into a pit of slow, torturous woe. Each song doesn't bear much of a difference from the other, maintaining a fairly simple structure that is kept to throughout, which some may find quite unappealing and, for lack of a better word, boring. But don't get me wrong, the songs may not be that different, but they are certainly not lacking in quality, and every track never ceases to torment your soul.
So, My Shameful have presented a fine demo that promises good things for the future. Whilst not being ground breakingly original or unique, the band still conjure up thirty three minutes of intense passion, and are heartily recommended to anyone seeking emotive, yet extreme music.
1. A Shadow
2. Too Late
3. To All I Hated
4. Hope Torn
Approx. 33 minutes
| Of All the Wrong Things (CD) | 2003 | Firebox Records |
It was much to my pleasant surprise then to discover that the new My Shameful album (and first full-length of the band) has everything which their debut MCD lacked; the general sound is much heavier and darker, while the hate drips from the desolate compositions full of brutal, distorted grunts, joyless spoken parts, more varied song structures and minimalistic, subtle embellishments like reverbed acoustic interludes, haunting piano keys and hypnotizing lead guitar.
Other plus points are the use of a real drummer this time and the sombre, dark artwork which works very effectively with the hopeless soundscapes of My Shameful. The songs move more into the direction of funeral doom compared to the band's previous effort, and much to my surprise I heard some similarities with other desolate acts like Dolorian, Hlidolf and even Beyond Black Void, although My Shameful hasn't (yet) reached such extremes of musical desolation and nihilism.
Finally, I would like to leave the judgement upon this album to the listener by quoting this phrase from 'The wind that burns all', which in my opinion sums up very well the emotions one can find in this work: "Save your last prayers/come down to meet me here/lower yourself to my level/let your hate be free/see yourself and what we've become/a lower form of life/as we tumble through the last times".
1. Intro
2. Scattered ashes
3. Blackend lies
4. A saddened sunset
5. The wind that burns all
6. Beneath
7. I fear
8. Blamed
Approx. 54 minutes
| ...of Dust (CD) | 2004 | Firedoom Music |
It is clear that My Shameful is influenced by fellow patriots Dolorian. The simple, yet very emotional, riffage is probably the biggest similarity. The occasionally whispered vocals are also comparable to Dolorian's self-titled album. Last but not least, both bands share a powerful and intense feeling of zero hope and despair. In many ways, if Dolorian had ever played doom/death then it's very likely that they would sound like this.
This is in no way a copycat band though! The semi-growled and semi-whispered vocals which sound somewhat like they're burning, are totally unique to these guys. They also include pieces of music that sounds like what Anathema would sound like if they played funeral doom. Primarily the band is actually a mixture of doom/death and funeral doom, but as noted above, there are doom/black elements involved as well.
For those who instantly think of My Dying Bride when someone mentions doom/death then let it be known that this is a hideous, unforgiving and foul kind of music. There is absolutely nothing romantic about it. If My Dying Bride is the mourning lover who kneels before a grave, then this is the hopeless one who sits in a filthy back alley, taking an overdose of heroine in hope that it will end his misery.
Those of us who enjoy Dolorian, Thergothon, diSEMBOWELMENT and other similar creations of extreme doom/death, this is a release well worth buying. In fact, it's actually worth a little extra effort just to get hold of it. Just be warned, this music is in no way healthy for your soul.
1. ...Of Dust
2. And Waters Will Close
3. Your Darkness Shine
4. One Lost
5. I Found Nothing Sacred
6. These Empty Rooms
7. Disappointment
8. To Never Return
Approx. 56 minutes
| The Return to Nothing (CD) | 2006 | Firedoom Music |
The band is one of the best in the funeral scene and this album proves it. They studied the teachings of the bands that shaped doom/death in the past ten years and they start to shape a much more personal sound making all those who enjoyed their previous works and especially that unbelievable debut happy. The band is far from being one of the many in the MDB chariot and describing them as that shows at least ignorance, both in terms of music and lyrics. My Shameful is much darker and heavier, and they don't believe in the romantic side of dying (if there is any). The atmosphere of the album is based on the heavy and thick riffs, and is full of hate and torment vocals which can be described as suffocating. Imagine you are buried alive and you die slowly without oxygen; at the beginning you try to escape, and when you fail, you surrender hopelessly to your fate.
Those who know the band don't need me to say that this album is recommended to anyone who has a serious doom/death collection, but be prepared for an extreme kind of music that is dangerously addictive. If you want to get a taste of the band you can watch their video for 'This Same Grey Light' at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnHk7Ff-cGk
1. This Same Grey Light
2. Days Grow Darker
3. No Dawn
4. The Return to Nothing
5. It Can't Get Worse
6. Silent
7. Just One
8. Return
Approx. 51 minutes