Shattered Hope - Absence (CD)

Review
Deaf Sparrow
2/5

Funeral doom is a style of metal that uses very few riffs very many times; so the riffs better be powerful. Unfortunately, that just isn’t the case on Shattered Hope’s debut, Absence. Absence is a compiled of weak replicas of the riffs found on My Dying Bride and Mourning Beloveth albums; Shattered Hope just slow them down a notch. These copy-cats certainly lack the heart of their predecessors. Their brand of darkness and melancholia is trite—a lack of inspiration disguised as depression. Absence is just too simple. The riffs are basic doom metal stock and the flat keys lack any new insight. On the positive side, the growls are harsh and heavy—perfect for the style—and there are some cool gothic/ darkwave leads that sometimes add a stylish dimension to the music. However, these few positive dimensions are not enough to make up for the sea of mediocrity that characterizes Absence. Take the twenty minute closer, “The Utter Void,” as an example. The song shifts between chamber music and long stretches of doom—a clear attempt at an epic. However, the song completely misses the mark. The “classical” passages are just simplistic minor progressions that show no compositional skill, while the metal passages fail to build any sort of intensity or fervor. Shattered Hope is a reminder that while funeral doom can be simple, it shouldn’t be elementary. Absence is like “Babies First Funeral Doom Recording.” The basic building blocks are placed together in a way that will surprise and impress no one.

Review
Metalzone
9/10
11.03.2011

Пожалуй стоит рассказать поклонникам дум-металлической музыки о важном релизе конца ушедшего 2010 года, который грех пропускать. Итак греческие funeral death-doom’стеры Shattered Hope выпустили свой первый полноформатный альбом «Absence», который был издан на Solitude Prod. в России. До этого на счету группы имеется лишь демо (2005) и промо (2007) альбомы, которые ребята свободно распространяли в Интернете, помимо всего прочего свободно общаясь с другими металхедами по всему миру. Еще тогда после выхода их промо столкнулся с их творчеством и понял, что их музыка не унылый проходняк. К тому же в 2009 году Shattered Hope были заявлены на фестиваль Metal Heads Mission в Крым, но к сожалению группы в лайн-апе в конечном счете не оказалось.


Перейдем собственно к альбому «Absence», который состоит из семи композиций. Диск и буклет оформлены в черных тонах, а считываемая поверхность CD отливается золотым цветом. Обложка альбома – маяк посреди темного бушующего моря, красивая работа. В буклете можно найти тексты песен, фото группы. С самого начала прослушивания появилось ощущение, что группа определенно выросла в плане качества саунда. Первый трек Amidst Nocturnal Silence с самого начала загружает слушателя фьюнеральным грузом и соответствующим отчетливым гроулингом. Прослушиваются различные характеры, а также появляются разнообразие ритм-секции, мелодичные эпизоды, но в конечном счете 12-минутный трек заканчивается офигительным гитарным соло-куплетом, который четко и ясно говорит – «Я из Греции, родины Septic Flesh и Rotting Christ». Вот это именно то, за что греки уникальны и просто фантастические - по выдумыванию соляков и к тому же со своим специфическим звучанием. Второй и третий трек продолжает мелодичную волну. Здесь с большой интенсивностью появляются эпизоды с красивейшими мелодичными мотивами, они просто хитовые! Ритм-секция то ускоряется, то замедляется. Все больше разнообразия, мелодий и оттенков, которые наполняют гитары и клавишные, мягкий бас, скрипки и виолончели, всякие хорусы, вокалы - как спойные речитативные, так и депрессивные. Стоит отметить, что на альбоме присутствуют дополнительные вокалы от фронтменов Saturnus и Ataraxie. Кстати именно преславутую датскую группу Saturnus больше всего напоминает греческий альбом «Absence» - из-за ярких душераздирающих гитарных мелодий. Четвертый трек Yearn более скоростной, в чем-то он даже вполне дарк металлический. Следующая композиция более тягучая с яркими гитарными мелодиями, и даже чередуется блэковыми бласт-битами со скримингом. Все это воспринимается с душой, так мягко и не напрягает. Предпоследний трек представляет собой такое себе грустное и очень тоскливое трио виолончели, скрипки и фортепиано. А затем эта музыка плавно перетекает в финальную 16-минутную композицию, заполненную то критически фьюнеральным темпом и тягучим гроулом, то резко взбитое карданным боем. К середине трека все стихает, лишь шепот и переборы по струнам. А потом все снова, по старой – зловеще и сурово.


Вцелом пластинка слушается ровно и на одном дыхании, оставляя желание послушать снова и снова. В «Absence» от Shattered Hope нет ничего лишнего, все так и должно быть, и это очень важно. Очень хочется верить, что очевидный успех полноформатника будет замечен в Европе и даст возможность в будущем выпускать им не менее клевые работы, да и выступать в различных уголках планеты, в том числе и в СНГ. Stay doomed!

Author: Napalmer

Review
The Streets
7/10
05.10.2010

Shattered Hope starter debutalbumet med 13 minutter lange 'amidst nocturnal silence', og dermed er standarden satt
for over en time med seig, melodiøs og dyster doom/death, i samme gate som blant andre My Dying Bride og Paradise Lost. Det er både trist og stemmningsfull så det holder, og albumet føles samtidig veldig gjennomført og solid, med få svakheter. Litt piano og cello er det selvsagt også funnet plass til, og det eneste som igrunnen mangler er vel kansje litt vakker kvinne vokal, men om akkurat det er nødvendig er det vel delte meninger om, og jeg savner det ihvertfall ikke. Vil påstå at dette albumet er et must for tilhengere av sjangeren, og konstanterer samtidig at selv om de nok ikke tilfører noe særlig nytt, har Hellas igjen fått et nytt og spennende band innen ekstrem metal kategorien.

Author: LeifNeverdahl

Review
Vibrayions of Doom
9.8/10

This time around, as Solitude Productions (based out of Russia, mind you) dips it's toe into internation waters, it just so happens to make a pit stop in Greece, home to Shattered Hope. Now, I don't know of many doom bands that hail from Greece, with the exception of Nightfall who have been around like FOREVER, but I had no idea such passionate and emotional doom/death bands were evolving in the land where some of the most passionate and dedicated heavy metal fans on this planet can be found. Utilizing landscapes and textures found most commonly within bands like Mourning Beloveth, My Dying Bride and even Ahab, I must say that every song on this disc is an emotional roller coaster ride filled with soaring synthesizers, well crafted high ended guitar notes, and deep vicious death metal roars. Solitary acoustic guitar work starts off the disc (the track 'Amidst Nocturnal Silence') before launching into amazing atmosphere. It reminds me of some of the most emotional parts of early Draconian alongside the epic instrumentation of a band like Ea! For a 13 minute piece, there's lots of diversity, though I thought maybe a bit too much time was spent on sicker and heavier material. 'Vital Lie' follows up, and I gotta say that there's one part of this song where you hear some of the sickest and heaviest vocal work you'll ever hear, it's almost like a shouted hardcore style mixed with vampyric black metal, and you'll have to hear it to believe it! For all the dark and sinister vibes going on, though, there's still many moments of melody, including some nice violin and piano notations. There are a few short pieces, though, and the track 'Yearn' throws you off a bit (at it's 3:32 length) with the faster paced instrumentation; it's kinda doomy but DAMN heavy. Though almost blackened vocals can be heard on 'Enlighten The Darkness,' the track stays predominantly in a more melodic and etherial mood, adding piano notations and landscape synths in all the right places. This CD features one instrumental track 'Lament In F# Major,' which mainly uses violins, pianos, and stringed instruments to lead you through the 18 minute album closer 'The Utter Void.' The track at times conveys the idea that this could actually be two or three separate songs, most noted by how some solitary instrumentation breaks the track and right before a variation in tempo or style and sound. The last 5 minutes of this song feature some great epic doomy instrumentation, which are extremely ear pleasing and catchy, and will leave you with a lasting impression long after the last notes have faded from this CD (And yes, I digitized the last 5 minutes of this track for you so you could hear what I was talking about!) I really enjoyed this disc, and can't wait for the next release from this Greek band.

Review
Doom-metal.com
15.09.2011

Lighthouse ahead! The captain of the wretched ship wailed in awe happy to have found shelter for him and the crew; or so it seemed. A lighthouse in the middle of nowhere, no matter how bright it may shine, it shatters your hope. Soon the tormented ship would find its place among others at the bottom of the ocean, in Absence.

Shattered Hope, my co-countrymen, not only managed to release an album worth its burden in welcome amounts of crushing waves of the sea, they had the chance to depict everything their music has to present in an envelope which transformed their compositions into a highly expressive title/artwork and vice versa. Doom/Death with funeral Doom references is everything you have to expect and it’s enough to please your weary senses so as to keep on listening. As a matter of fact, Shattered Hope never let me down and it was during a Saturnus show in Greece I managed to get a hold of their first demo. Ever since they worked hard and achieved to play alongside renowned acts of the scene both indoors and outdoors and the progress of ’Absence’ is their reward, everything they tried to achieve throughout the years, everything they are at the present; the future still lies ahead, no matter how “un-Doom” this may sound.

Down–paced heavily distorted guitars and weeping melodies pave the way with their overburdened vibe, yet the band shows they aren’t afraid to fasten the march and burst into soaring fierce moments, until darkness falls again. Beauteous keyboard/piano melodies surround you as they enrich the overall ambiance and you can’t act otherwise but follow their lament. The rhythm section is imposing enough and compliments the compositions, lending depth, groove (no matter how slow it may be) and holding together the structure of the compositions. Nick’s gifted throat grunts from the core of the earth escalating the atmosphere with every single word he utters in his very own devastating manner. Needless to say some cleaner vocals and recites make the sound of Shattered Hope more affected and fragile, whereas some tormented screams deepen the band’s personal martyrdom. Lest not forget the harassing violin melodies that tempt your senses.

Of course the band’s not alone in their virgin ride (in terms of full-length releases) in the world of Doom metal. Having Marquis (on ‘Vital Lie’) of Funeralium/Ataraxie fame and Thomas (on ‘A Traitor’s Kiss’), his majesty from Saturnus, partaking in your work, then it must mean something and having said this, by no means I’m lowering the beauty of the album itself, it’s through a highly positive spectrum. As a matter of fact, to say things with their name, those two accomplished artists in the world of Doom metal wouldn’t lend their voices in an album not worth their/your attention.

Before leading my point of view to a natural end, I have to make a special reference to Vital Lie. I first listened to this song when their first demo came out and I stood in awe finding out how much it changed throughout the years and became the colossal tombstone it is nowadays. With respect to its sound roots, the band progressed its arch melancholy both in terms of length and emotion and with Marquis’ offering it reached completion.

Of course they have their references, varying from Saturnus to My Dying Bride and from Mourning Beloveth and Anathema to funeral Doom whispers. Originality is a difficult thing to find in Doom metal in general: after all, almost everything has been said and done. The key to enjoy (yes, Doomsters can actually enjoy their music) this kind of expression is beyond such small matters when aspects like personal experience, heart and soul come to the surface. Feel it or leave it.

If by any chance you haven’t come across Shattered Hope’s Absence yet, you could proceed without fear, but with passion. The band intends to reward you and make you wish for more in the near future. The best is yet to come, as for now, The Utter Void extends its hands just a breath away from you... would you dare to reach it?

Author: Kostas Vertzizis