MY DYING BRIDE THE DREADFUL HOURS ALBUM PEACEVILLE, PLAYGROUND RELEASE: OCTOBER 22, 2001 REVIEW: NOVEMBER 13, 2001

My Dying Bride are home again. After changes in line-up and strange musical excursions (read: for example "34.7888 Percent Complete"), they once again tread familiar soil. The earth they return to is just as grief-stricken and wet with tears as it should be, the songs just as long. Actually, they clock in at somewhere around eight minutes each, which is just what you ought to except from a real gothic, epic doom metal band.
This is the best, the sad lads from Yorkshire have let out on CD, since the masterpiece "The Angel and the Dark River". That one is a straight ten. The first time I heard it, I almost cried.
From the first track, "The Dreadful Hours" to the last, "Return to the Beautiful" - a reworking of the classic track with same title - we are spoiled with great music. I note the impressive guitar harmonies and the singing. The guitars range from beautiful to sinister. And Aaron Stainthorpes vocals stretch from mournful to growling. This is already a classic record in a true death metal spirit, with more than a touch of sadness.
So why not a straight ten this time? Well, simply because you cannot re-create a masterpiece. Whereas "The Angel and the Dark River" simply is a masterpiece, "The Dreadful Hours" is a very good album, but not as consequent as its predecessor. The earth has been trodden on before, the path is set and all the side-tracking this time around doesn't help. The last time they set their eyes on the target and just went for it.

KALLE MALMSTEDT

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