Lost in Memories, Lost in Grief. For a moment, the RMR crew was afraid that Rise to the Sky had awoken yet again with another round of endless noisy sorrow. Catalán is famous for bolstering his croaky doom with such headlines after all.
But fear naught, we’re dealing with Ian Arkley‘s My Silent Wake. A band that has been as versatile as it has become consistent on this zine. Doom ‘n’ gloom is their daily tear-drenched bread, true. But the records RMR covered to date were never really cut from the same cloth. Let’s face it, Gothic Doom is often what it is as well. But Arkely always injects something new. Case in point, the last record – Damnum per Seculorum – was devoid of metal. But the old geezers at the Review Desk were intrigued enough to take it on board anyway.
So, Lost in Memories, Lost in Grief hits our turntables – and confusion reigns again, to the point that we decided to let that one sit and mature for a while. This is yet another flavor of this band’s grief-stricken musings. This time, a meatier, more gothically tainted slab of woe makes its appearance. Oftentimes, the fare on offer sounds like some strange mix of Moonspell and Rotting Christ. In other words, you get a good dose of Portuguese melancholy and some of the rhythmic and unholy fervor of our blackened brethren from the Med.
Yet, the vocals took us aback most. Ian Arkley‘s performance now sports a new-found passion without ever losing the sense of wretched sorrow. His burly croak and half-spoken screams sit right in the middle of the Peaceville sweet spot. But the way Simon Bibby moved into the spotlight with his clears this time proved to be a game-changer. This turns both – Arkley and Bibby – into a tag team, shining brightly on this wretched canvas they’re painting. In other words, the large space1 allocated to clear voice transports Lost in Memories, Lost in Grief much closer to the acolytes of trve doom.
Want proof? Head over to The Last Lullaby. This one track could singlehandedly torment listeners on any one of My Dying Bride‘s records. It’s all there, the measured drum work, the weeping guitars, and the sudden solo that rings out at odd moments. There are more gems along the tracklist, though. Already the first track, The Liar and the Fool, immediately set the tone with one great first offering full of meaty Doom Metal. To the point that we feared for the rest of the record. But it was all for naught, Lavender Garden turned into one of these picture-perfect Doom Metal pieces with enough gothic melancholy for added spice. A track that made us yearn for the next Crypt Sermon piece.2 But if you’re on the lookout for The Pvrity ov Gothic Doom, head over to the last track The Judges. It may not be the best and feistiest song on Lost in Memories, Lost in Grief. But it for sure had the most emotional impact on this here crew.
Ultimately, Lost in Memories, Lost in Grief was a revelation compared to There Was Death. The RMR crew found a more potent and – indeed – starkly energetic ocean of tears gushing our way. A hefty delivery that roars forth on majestic mid-tempo avalanches of anguish and pain. The piece is beefy, deft, dramatic, versatile, and powerful. Fueled by a smartly executed production and drenched in an abundance of organ-fueled passages. And all that – frankly – outpaces former records. This is some expert wallowing in old memories that was smartly capped at a crisp 44 minutes of airtime. There’s – sadly – only so much you can take in, you know. And the band took heed of that small but important facet.
Great record.
Record Rating: 8/10 | Label: Ardua Music | Web: Official Band Site
Release Date: 3 May 2024