SOLITUDE AETURNUS – ALONE – 2006 (US) doom metal

Things are pretty clear in the doom metal genre. The top place belongs to the kings Candlemass followed very close by Solitude Aeturnus. And even if Candlemass had a large period of decadence (split-up, reunion, release of miserable albums like "Dactylis Glomerata" and "From the 13th Sun") still they managed to maintain their prestige and honor their glorious past with the homonymous 2005 release. On the other hand Solitude Aeturnus have never fallen so deep in oblivion and or caught by the web of mediocrity (I'm sorry to say that, but Candlemass had sunk too deep into Erebus), but all the same their career is stigmatized by a long period of stagnancy, that came after the release of an average to good album and an unspeakably bad one.
I know that many will disagree, even call me names, but as far as I'm concerned "Downfall" is the album that should not be, a smack in the eye for the band and an insult towards the fans that have worshiped their masterly, elegiac epic doom sound of "Into the Depths of Sorrow" and "Beyond the Crimson Horizon" and the Sabbath-like heavy/doom of "Through the Darkest Hour". The follow-up "Adagio", an album I loved for different reasons, might have saved the day and gave back to the band a part of its lost glory, still under strict judgment I would characterize it as icy, nerveless and one-dimensional.

So "Alone" bears a heavy load. It's the one that'll prove whether Solitude Aeturnus still have it. If they're capable of creating tunes of epic melancholy, immersing the devoted listener into a doom abyss, like they used to do. Fortunately to a great point they musically approach their early days. Proof of that is the opening "Scent of Death". Mr Perez and Co. let us see that they've never stopped living and breathing epic doom metal. They haven't forgotten what pain, agony, sorrow, solitude really feel like. The slow and heavy roars emitted by Perez's and Moseley's instruments, prove that this time their torturers are not kidding. The same goes for James Martin and Steve Nichols that show no mercy to the rhythm section, preserving the slow and dynamic tempo, vibrating with full hate their strings and leathers, while the "Chanter of Doom" named Robert Lowe has the duty to picture the meaning of soreness and anguish in the mind of the listener and he does a perfect job. He preserves his voice in high standards and personally speaking is the best doom metal singer out there.

Apart from that, "Alone's" sound falls somewhere between "Through the Darkest Hour" and "Adagio" ("Waiting for the Light ", "Blessed Be the Dead"), but with a more power/epic ("Sightless", "Burning", "Is There"), and dark attitude ("Upon Within", "Tomorrows Dead", "Essence of Black"), with a strong dose of Candlemass-like passages, and the usual for Aeturnus oriental rhythms in some points. Definitely superior than their two previous deliveries and above all my expectations. I would be a foolish dreamer if I expected a masterpiece like "Into the Depths…" or "Beyond…", but if you ask me "Alone" comes right after them. Solitude Aeturnus are still alive and Doomed!!!

Robert Lowe - vocals (Candlemass, Last Chapter)
John Perez - guitars
Steve Moseley - guitars
James Martin - bass
Steve Nichols – drums

1 Scent of Death 9:42
2 Sightless 4:41
3 Blessed Be the Dead 5:03
4 Waiting for the Light 4:24
5 Upon Within 7:56
6 Burning 8:43
7 Is There 8:01
8 Tomorrows Dead 6:26
9 Essence of Black 5:33
10 Embrace 10:10

After being somewhat disappointed with the new Candlemass album (of which Robert Lowe is also the vocalist), I wasn't so sure about this either. Thankfully there was no need to worry. Classic (and I mean classic) doom metal with great classy tunes, great vocals and blissful solos. Alone lives up to it's great cover art.
Rip from CD 256@ (artwork included)
Download links
http://lix.in/30e717b1
http://lix.in/9d7e8f4e