Terhen
Eyes Unfolded (CD) 2007 Firedoom
Slow, majestic and melodic playing, melodies that keep the middle between eerie and desperate, key lines to support crunching guitars and slow, deep grunts… It’s clear we’re talking about a melodic doom-death album that has all the typical features you’d expect. Faint touches of dreamy female vocals inclusive. Fans of My Dying Bride, Swallow the Sun or Desire can purchase this release without hesitation. This album includes everything to appeal to your musical ear. However, at the same time, exactly this fact is the biggest risk of the album. No matter how nice the melodies and how well the playing, only little is added to make the music differ from the likes of Desire or Swallow the Sun. Sure, there are some nice hooks, there are the obliged catchy motives, and especially the drumming kicks in some unconventional sounds. But that can’t change the fact that this melodic doom-death metal album sounds exactly as it can be expected to sound. This Finnish band recorded this album as a debut full length follow-up to the 2005 ‘Self Crusifixion’ promo. Song-wise and sound-wise, the album is very up to date and sounds like a fresh release, produced with good care. The broad and full sound creates a heavy flow for the ears, not unlike the sound of their fellow young Finnish melodic doom-death label mates (whom I’m not going to mention for a third time in this review). Melodic doom-death fans know what to expect. Anyone else looking for a slow paced, heavy yet melancholic listening experience can give this album a fair try.	1. Influences 2. Six Months 3. Last Moments 4. What Truly is Real 5. Wandering Approx. 54 minutes
Guest review by: Heiko Isselée