Album Review | is LOVE alive? – Welcome Home…

is LOVE alive?
Welcome Home…
Label: Underground Power Records
Out: CD: September 11^th, 2023, Vinyl: October 31^st, 2023
Playing time: 36:42

I have been following the development of the German Doomers is LOVE alive? since 2019.

This is forty-five minutes of epic doom, just the way I like it.

I cheered in my review of “Final Journey” The follow-up “Second To None” was also excellent. But as often before in the band’s history, band founder and guitarist Thomas Pieper stood alone. Besides singer Anna Brandenburg, two other musicians left the band. Even later, the band did not find rest. Further line-up changes and strokes of fate clouded the daily routine. In addition, the Covid 19 pandemic made songwriting and joint rehearsals very difficult. But now it’s done. The third album “Welcome Home…” is finished.

The opening “Welcome” is only a little more than two minutes short. But it is also not one of the usual unspeakable intros. Strings and e-piano dominate at first. Then the rhythm section kicks in powerfully. Even though it’s not a real intro, this instrumental is certainly suitable for getting the musicians on stage. “People Come People Go” then provides a real Epic Doom feeling. Starts very melodic with discreet drum inserts. Stefan Hüsing’s vocals are calm and clear. But then the bass and the lower-tuned guitar come in, which makes for a lot of melancholic sound pressure. In “State Of Mind” the tempo is increased slightly, but without leaving the melancholic basic mood. And then the wobbling Hammond, this one completely thrilled me. Thunderstorms in the background, a short story told, then “At The End” almost tends towards Funeral Doom. Also thanks to the slowly played, very distorted guitar. But also here it becomes very epic and faster later on, for Doom this is already a furious gallop. “Psycho Woman” leaves the doom area in terms of tempo, in terms of sound you can enjoy the cornerstones of Epic Doom Metal here too. But back to the original decelerated dark sound. This is how “Rejected Messiah” presents itself. There are also discreet keyboard interjections. “The Last Sunset” is more reminiscent of an intro, although the musicians also attach importance to beautiful melodies. Add to that the interplay between acoustic and clean electric guitar. Is the last song “Doomsday Clock” still Doom? Definitely in terms of sound. But the tempo is an instrumental gallop. There is an interplay between Hammond and guitar, as you know it partly from Deep Purple, for example. And there is also room for a short drum solo. This idiosyncratic composition is the crowning glory of the album for me.

is LOVE alive? explore the boundaries of Doom Metal in all its diversity on their third album “Welcome Home…”. A great album.

Lineup:

Stefan Hüsing – Vocals
Tom Pieper – Guitars
Sash Sievers – Bass
Daniel Müller – Drums

Label: Underground Power Records

Out: CD: September 11^th, 2023, Vinyl: October 31^st, 2023

Track list:

• Welcome
• People Come People Go
• State Of Mind
• At The End
• Psycho Woman
• Rejected Messiah
• The Last Sunset 
• Doomsday Clock