November is Doom- Pantheist : "Uncanny Times"

This band from Belgium plays a compelling version of funeral that uses some interesting layers of sound rather than just the atmospheric, cavernous drift. Female vocals color the opening song. It's punchier than what funeral doom normally does, but that plays to their benefit, as they do not allow themselves to check off the expected boxes. There is a bit of grandiose chaos, but it works for what they are doing; if every song has this level of over-the-top bombast, it might be a bit of an acquired taste. The guitar solo fills the spot where the operatic vocals sat. Growl vocals do emerge, with drums moving the metal riffs with a more flowing speed. 

The second song: The Laughing Falcon," is more of an uptempo, grooving death-doom riff-based attack with growled vocals. It has some atmosphere, but the primary attack is more metallic, placing them on the Paradise Lost side without the gothic touches. I guess it sounds good, but it doesn't really set them apart, even when the female vocals come in. "Kuebiko" brings the more grandiose symphonic elements back into focus with the wailing of a soprano. As someone who has listened for more than my fair share of opera over the years, she does not have the control an actual opera singer should, but it should fool heavy metal kids who have no idea. The pipe organ is a cool touch. 

"Entropy" balances the atmosphere with a cool groove. It's an instrumental that is under four minutes, but is a direction they have been better served exploring. Used in this context, it's more of an interlude. "Ithaca Out of Sight" has more of a Dead Can Dance ambiance it lingers in before hte guitar solo comes ripping in. At almost 14 minutes, they let this one sprawl out. In closing with a 16-minute song, they are not afraid to sprawl things out. Normally, with doom bands, this is because of the tempo they are playing at, but this album is pretty deliberate. At times, this album brings Theater of Tragedy to mind. At the five-minute mark, I have no idea how they are going to drag this out for another 11 minutes. The answer is that, six minutes later, they let things break down into a lingering piano jam before bringing the growled vocals in. It is pretty dark and depressive-sounding, so it works.I will give this album an 8.5, if you want operatic doom this is for you.o

5.5