MY DYING BRIDE FOR LIES I SIRE ALBUM PEACEVILLE RELEASE: MARCH 25, 2009 REVIEW: JUNE 17, 2009

I have followed the pride of North Yorkshire, My Dying Bride, since ”The Angel and the Dark River" – actually – made me weep in 1996. Mainly because they are so consistent in their grief ridden themes, but of course also because I love their doom-heavy, but strangely beautiful, dark sound. And, a few missteps like “34.788%...Complete” aside, I have been greatly rewarded over the years.

So also with “For Lies I Sire”. Overall, there’s not much new in the My Dying Bride-camp. They do what they do best: Write songs about love, loss, death and longing. The main difference between this record and the last – “Line of Deathless Kings” – is that the viola is back. And that actually makes “For Lies I Sire” an even better record. That, and the fact that Aaron Stainthorpe sings better than ever.

My Dying Bride have also honed their song writing skills to the extreme, without leaving their almost progressive formula and down-tuned chords behind, making this their best album since later highlights like “Dreadful Hours” and – yes – “The Angel and the Dark River”. The heavy drums, the viola, the singing and the song structure in slower songs like “My Body, My Funeral" combined makes this a varied album, without once sounding like anything else than a collection of My Dying Bride-songs.

For god or worse.

This won't garner these Britons any new followers (although they deserve them), but long time fans should be really pleased that there is true beauty in darkness once more.

KALLE MALMSTEDT