My Dying Bride ‘The Ghost of Orion’
Album Review By Adam McCann
Nuclear Blast Records/Doom Metal
It seems like aeons have passed since My Dying Bride released ‘Feel the Misery’ back in 2015. Thankfully, in these gloomy and depressing time, Yorkshire’s favourite doomsters are back with their highly anticipated 14th studio album ‘The Ghost of Orion’.
There is a certain expectation when it comes to My Dying Bride and that is an album full of miserable songs, perfect for the dead of winter. Thankfully, with ‘The Ghost…’ the Yorkshire band do not disappoint, what the listener gets here are drawn out singular notes juxtaposed with crushing riffs that make the ground shake like a herd of Diplodocus passing by. When this song crafting is combined with some excellent harmonised vocals from Aaron Stainthorpe which when added alongside some ambient keyboards and violin courtesy of Shaun Macgowan and beautiful cello passages from Jo Quail, it takes ‘The Ghost…’ one foot away from the doom we know that My Dying Bride are capable of and almost into the realms of folk/metal at times. This is best seen on the ‘The Solace’, a beautiful sombre piece of music led by the vocals of Lindy Fay Hella, best known for her work with Wardruna. These elements seem to give a new edge to My Dying Bride, something fresh and modern, whilst tracks such as ‘Your Broken Shore’, ‘To Outlive the Gods’ and the title track keep one foot firmly rooted into what fans of the band know and love. Although this is an album without Calvin Robertshaw, in a split which was a little less than amicable, Neil Blanchett is a more than capable replacement and whilst he does not have the legacy of Robertshaw, it has opened up an interesting new chapter in the history of My Dying Bride.
This isn’t a running leap into the unknown and ‘The Ghost…’ is a very, very good album that shows My Dying Bride still have a relevant place within the world, this is an album which is as gloomy as they come and the band haven’t sound this melancholy in years and alongside their peers Paradise Lost; My Dying Bride have released some of their best work in years.
Rating : 90/100
MHF Magazine/Adam McCann
