PRIDE AND FALL IN MY TIME OF DYING ALBUM DEPENDENT RELEASE: SEPTEMBER, 2007 REVIEW: NOVEMBER 6, 2007

Determining the musical backdrop of Pride and Fall has become increasingly difficult with each release. The Norwegian trio began their quest in a future pop suit, albeit one with jagged edges. "In My Time of Dying" sees them dive even deeper into darkness, dealing with pain almost to the point of it becoming unbearable.

Vocalist Sigve Monsens powerful droning tell tales of death and suffering. Broken humans trying to escape. "I Wither", one of the best club backed laments of the year, is a brilliant showcase of the hopelessness plaguing the band. "Because everything must die, it's in the way we are". This is the theme and strength of the album, as the gloom is conveyed through such credible surroundings.

Interesting for the hardcore fans is the inclusion of old demo track "Adored" in a version quite similar to the original one. A beautiful, ballad-esque plea of love. "In My Time of Dying" also hosts trademark club tracks, like "The Painful Regret", "Blood" and "Free Me from My Demons", but they all fell slightly inferior to the ones on last album "Elements of Silence". This is an album of slow moving pain and the aforementioned "I Wither" together with "My Little", another journey through electronic hell.

Pride and Fall have created an album harder, grittier and darker than anything they have managed before and in the most mind-numbingly painful moments, they truly shine.

NIKLAS FORSBERG