Lord Of Shadows
Echoes Of Yore
Label: Meuse Music Records / Tragedy Productions
Out: September 1st, 2023
Playing time: 42:34
The namesake and visionary for the band name is lyricist Shadows (Valentin Untaru – source Encyclopaedia Metallum). There is also multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Mike Lamb (Sojourner, Remina, Light Field Reverie, Lysithea). And various singers. First and foremost, Heike Langhans (ex-Draconian, ex-ISON, Remina, Light Field Reverie, LOR3L3I) and Aaron Stainthrope (My Dying Bride). Emilio Crespo (Sojourner) only intones the third song. The project is finished. Until 2021, the project founded two years earlier was still called “Cruish-Nir”.
Each song is inspired by my own life and is connected to the next one, to form one sorrowful story of love and the acceptance of one’s fate.
That’s what Shadows says. After the first EP “Extremum Vitae Spiritum Edere” (still under the name Cruish-Nir), the debut album “Echoes Of Yore” is now finished. Except for the drums, the recordings were done at Mike Lamb and Heike Langhans’ Ghost Bird Studios in Düren. The artwork was also contributed by singer Heike Langhans.
The opener “Her Lips Were Poetry And Doom” starts quietly with a piano introduction and spoken words. But soon the full instrumental power kicks in and you hear the first discreet growls from Aaron Stainthorpe. Also “Faith Of Thy Beloved” starts with calm piano sounds. Underpinned by more power, you can enjoy the ethereal vocals of Heike Langhans alternating with more evil growls. Reminiscent of Draconian. Oh, how I missed that, these quiet, sustained Doom sounds. And this continues with “At The End Of Our Eclipse”. Am I wrong or do the growls sound even a shade darker? Here you can even hear Emilio Crespo as Heike’s vocal partner. In my opinion, elfin vocals and growls fit together perfectly. This time, synth strings introduce the song “She Was But An Echo Of Yore”. And the song seems calmer than the previous ones, downright epic. “Through Memories, I Gave Her Life” then sounds more powerful again, but no less sustained. Aaron switches between clear vocals and growls. With “If The Tears Are Forgotten” and “Your Blood Weighs Heavy”, two more decelerated Doom monsters end this album.
When I listen to “Echoes Of Yore”, I really go into raptures. The fragile sounding elfin voice of Heike Langhans has appealed to me for years. In my opinion, she continues what started with “Sovran” and “Under A Dodless Veil” with Draconian. And both Aaron Stainthorpe and Emilio Crespo are ideal vocal partners. It is also not at all noticeable that Mike Lamb recorded all the instruments alone. The album is a great hour of Doom, which almost slides into Funeral realms here. I hope that the protagonists have staying power and release more of these sound giants.
Lord of Shadows – At the End of Our Eclipse: https://youtu.be/S8kgT1cd4dM
Lineup:
Shadows – Lyrics, Concept
Mike Lamb – All Music
Aaron Stainthorpe – Vocals (all tracks except 3)
Heike Langhans – Vocals (tracks 2 – 6)
Emilio Crespo – Vocals (track 3)
Track list:
- Her Lips Were Poetry And Doom
- Faith Of Thy Beloved
- At The End Of Our Eclipse
- She Was But An Echo Of Yore
- Through Memories, I Gave Her Life
- If The Tears Are Forgotten
- Your Blood Weighs Heavy
Rating:
Album (40%): 10/10
Cover-Art (20%): 9/10
Songwriting (40%): 9/10
Overall Rating : 9.4/10
