Review by Jack on May 6, 2003.

Mourning Beloveth’s first album in “Dust” was the sort of record that was capable of delivering a cunning swift jab if you weren’t expecting it, while their latest album “The Sullen Sulcus” flat out delivers the hammering blow that only Mike Tyson and Lenox Lewis were capable of inflicting.

“The Sullen Sulcus” tops “Dust” in every way possible (and that is no easy feat. “Dust” was a pretty special doom record). For those of you aren’t so familiar with Mourning Beloveth they are a band who hail from Ireland that, as you can probably assume by now, play doom metal. Doom metal in the format of long drawn out compositions, ambitious guitar riffs, deep, dark depressive lyrics, harsh conflicting vocal styles, and death/tortured clean wails. I think you can see what I am getting at. Now doom/death metal in that sort of format sounds quite appealing if pulled off correctly, but most bands unfortunately fail to truly nail the formula on the head adequately enough. However, while many bands hover around creating something successful and appealing in the doom/death world, Mourning Beloveth flat out devastate on all fronts.

Vocalists Frank and Darren are perfectly suited for the kind of interplay you wish to see between vocal styles. When talking of doom perfection in vocals I think someone of Aaron Stainthorpe from My Dying Bride is around the benchmark to strive for. These two guys from Mourning Beloveth are floating around near Aaron in creating a standard of vocal style that plays out beautifully for a doom record. The contrast between the gruff and grim tone of the harsh vocals and the tormented, suffering moans of the clean vocals is exquisite to say the least.

I could pick out simply any detail from “The Sullen Suclus” and give you a glowing in-depth response as to how magnificent this record is. “The Sullen Sulcus” is the sort of record that excites me quite a lot. I won’t sit here and blow smoke up these guys’ arses, though. That is wasting your time in which you should be hopping on down to your local record store and picking this record up.

Bottom Line: Mourning Beloveth. Remember the band. “The Sullen Sulcus.” Remember the record. Buy.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9.5
Production: 8
Originality: 8
Overall: 8.5

Rating: 8.6 of 10