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 Expanding Horizons June 25, 2003 |
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Doom Metal is typically filled by heaviness, darkness, sadness and melancholy. The music is usually slow and heavy with a brooding atmosphere and the
"stringy" sound of the guitar is more muted than in power or progressive metal.
The melodies are very dark, almost oppressive at times. The lyrics often reflect the love, sorrow, and sadness of the writers; sometimes they have a religious theme but
this is mostly symbolic.
There are numerous sub genres of Doom Metal and I would call the music of Solitude Aeturnus "Progressive Power" Doom.
Solitude Aeturnus... their music has such a profound impact on my emotions... one song can bring me to the depths of misery while another gives me the highest high I
have ever experienced. The band was founded in 1987 in Arlington, Texas under the name Solitude, split up in 1988, and were then reformed by Perez with a new lineup in 1989 as Solitude Aeturnus. The new lineup proved to be more successful and the band released their first album "Into the Depths of Sorrow" in 1991 on Roadrunner Records. On an album filled with haunting songs, one song in particular stands out, "Mirror of Sorrow". It gives a feeling of utter despair with its intense music and vocals, and it leaves an aftertaste of sweet sadness.
Their next album, the almost oriental sounding "Beyond the Crimson Horizon," was released in 1992, and continued in the same excellent vein.
Their music wasn't really the kind that Roadrunner carried, so an eventual move to another label seemed inevitable. The band's (thus far) final release was "Adagio" in 1999, on the Massacre (Europe) label. Musically, "Adagio" is heavier and more traditional doom than the band's former albums and the lyrics are more centered on the members' views on religion. The songs on this album breathe a little bit of hope to all of us mere mortals, with their defiance towards all the Gods and Goddesses out there. "Spiral Descent" stands out with its feeling of nonchalance; it speaks of our inevitable doom but spoken by an indifferent doomsday preacher who really does not care whether we repent or not. This gives the song an almost surreal feel and makes the doom more imminent. "Lament" is another track that oozes with atmosphere.
For the most part the band has toured Texas and Europe and their fan base is probably bigger in Europe than in the US. Rumour has it that when playing in
Salt Lake City, Utah, their only fan got kicked out of town for being too drunk. There is no emotional state that could not be enhanced by the music of Solitude Aeturnus. Sadness turns into the deepest despair, joy into elation, and my yearning into an obsession...
(Thanks to Doom Girl for the above pictures.)
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Robert's haunting vocals, which would make any power metal singer green with envy, just give their songs that evil edge while at the same time giving them a yearning
sound that speaks to the depths of my emotions. These vocals combined with the slow, heavy power/thrash/doom sound of guitars, bass and the insistent sound from the
double bass drums make up the essence of their music.
The fact that Robert's vocals seem to weave through the music gives most of the songs an almost religious feel and there are very few doom bands out there with such
excellent guitar riffs.
Pain
All the band members have had numerous side projects, making different kinds of music and that has probably been the saving grace of the sound I have come to
associate with Solitude Aeturnus.
John Perez has a band called The Liquid Sound Company, has been involved in a another band project called Vampire Circus, and is running the record company
Brainticket Records.
Robert Lowe has been a singer for Last Chapter, another doom band, and in addition to this he has reportedly been playing the drums for an oriental-dance troupe.
Robert, Steve Moseley and Jon Covington have also been involved in a band project called Concept of God.
