Methinks we just covered another one of Sergio González Catalán‘s musings. And sure enough, it was Winds of Tragedy, the blackened branch of this one-man band’s two-sided artistic spigot. Yet, the RMR crew had some reservations about that one with some elements that wouldn’t quite fit the mold.
Now, Rise to the Sky is back with Catalán on safe territories he knows best. And that is Doom Death Metal filled with weeping strings, soaring guitar riffs, and the relentless raw roar that is the man’s trademark. Every Day, A Funeral already impressed us with its sorrowful prowess. A state-of-the-art doom piece that left us quaking in its wake. And that raises expectations for Two Years of Grief, the last of that specific series. But, will we find a treat in the offing or just much more of the same? Don yer black garments and follow us into Catalán‘s tear-drenched world.
First off, Two Years of Grief won’t deliver a ton of change – and we didn’t expect any. So, once you fire up the record, the doom-laden typical vibes of Rise to the Sky greet you with a vengeance. And right away there is – yet again – this closeness to Officium Triste.1 A rich soundscape of miserable delicacies that flow forth at an almost funeral pace backed by Emidio Alexandre Ramos‘ proficient and – yes – astonishingly prolific drum work.
So, everything remains unchanged, right? Not quite. The style direction won’t show you any major changes, true. But Two Years of Grief‘s production has gained in maturity, and mightily so. There’s true meat in these riffs and solos, emotive strings galore, thoughtful ambient moments, and the ever-present croaks won’t try to bury you together with the misery that’s present all over the record.
Frequent references to the biggies in the melodeath scene appear at any odd moment. And you’ll find delicately blackened parts that pop up here and there (Burdened by Grief, for example) that sync with a pretty neat flow on a super-tight storyline. And all those elements now integrate into a coherent mass of true wretched tribulation. An avalanche of woe that is difficult to escape. In other words, the uptick in the quality of songwriting is palpable. And that’s a true step up compared to the album’s predecessor.
Just take the delicate female contributions from Natalia Drepina on Two Years of Grief – the title track. Those effortlessly flow through a multilayered smattering of acoustic guitars, strings, and – yet again – thoughtful drumming. I am often no great fan of those tracks that reach us in some halfway unplugged form. But here, the mastery continues, once Can’t Hide from Pain seamlessly follows the former track with a dialogue of thoughtful male clears and growls.
And funny enough, the sensory overload that the RMR crew suffered from on Every Day, A Funeral didn’t happen this time. This here record is thus way more balanced than its brethren ever were. Even if after 53 minutes of airtime it’s high time to move on to something more cheerful.
In the end however, Two Years of Grief is one of the best Doom Death Metal pieces we covered so far in 2023. This record being the last of the grief series, it is as if da master took heart and truly went for it. This mix between new-found power, true emotion, and an irresistible flow made that record. No doubt about it.
All of the above leads to an album we will return to more than once as this terrible year hurtles to its bitter end. A masterful slice of downcast misery with Sergio González Catalán at his finest. Well done, but now I’ll need a bit of sun to lighten the spirits. Open the shutters and let some fresh air in, will ya? Been down here long enough.
Ed’s note: There’s more roaring to be had. Convocation beckons you.
Record Rating: 8/10 | Label: Meuse Music | Web: Official Band Site
Release Date: 16 June 2023
- We’re still waiting for these guys to deliver their newest piece. -Ed.-↩