Umbra Nihil - The Borderland Rituals
Epidemie Record

file under doom metal

Erik: Finnish Bands, you got to love them! Seldom they bore me, not surprise me, offer me nothing or do they clone another band. All qualities destined for originality but also everything that makes it commercially uninteresting. This Umbra Nihil does not disappoint as suspected. Lord-ess Vera reviewed the debut ‘Gnoia’ but actually that release has nothing in common with this ‘The Borderland Rituals’, except for the band of course. Umbra Nihil has retreated into the deep shadows to re-invent and redirect their musical course and I like the result!

In the openings song ‘Welcome To The Borderland’ we are complimented with a King Crimson like bass and guitar, going straight towards each other instead of joining sounds. The result is marvelous. Shame the drums are left behind. Some ting-tings and extra percussion would have added to that effect but the drums are quite plain and straightforward. Maybe the only constant factor in the whole? The CD is inspired by the writings of a certain William Hope Hodgson (1877-1918), especially his book ‘The House On the Borderland’, hence the title of the CD. To add to the dramatic and dark twisted doom these guys play, they recorded everything in the outskirts of a deserted borderland. They recorded five songs with an almost organic and gelatinous result. The songs speed up once in a while, and become as frantic as every soul in an asylum. To put that to music is art! Not the most listenable CD, but a very original take on doom metal.

Erik stigmatizes this release with: 82/100 (details)

http://www.umbranihil.net