Lamentations – Passion of Depression
Lamentations – Passion of Depression
Willowtip Records
Release Date: 11/11/22
Running Time: 57:07
Review by Laura Barnes
10/10
I remember the first time I listened to Death’s ‘Voice Of The Soul’.
It was an unforgettable experience, one that showed me just how much Metal could achieve – just how much music could achieve. In just under four minutes, Death had managed to write a song that unleashed the full spectrum of human emotion and then lulled it gently back to sleep again. Such was Chuck Schuldiner’s musicality that he didn’t even need lyrics – the guitars sang for themselves, and their song was melodious and tragic and beautiful. Music that contains this type of raw emotional power is a rare find – the only other artists that I believe have come close to achieving this sound are Panopticon and Woods of Ypres. And now, Lamentations.
This album is nothing short of phenomenal. Hell, it’s hard to even pick out the best tracks, because 1) each and every one is outstanding and 2) this is an album designed to be listened to as an album. This isn’t the kind of music that you can just put on in the background while you tidy the bathroom. This is music for you to get lost in. With “Passion of Depression”, Lamentations have transcended the boundaries of Death Metal as they incorporate classical, folky, and melodic elements that blend seamlessly together, creating a mighty soundscape that is impossible to pull away from. To describe their sound in more practical terms, imagine the cinematic song writing of Dream Theater and combine it with the accessible heaviness of bands like Whitechapel and Carnifex. It is a simple premise, but a genius one.
The album opens with an absolutely stunning melodic riff that wouldn’t feel out of place on a Power Metal album. This riff leads us into our opening track ‘Prodigal’, a track where both blistering growls and clean vocals pave the way towards a surprisingly gentle conclusion. It flows perfectly into the following song, ‘Anew’, a slightly darker track that still manages to retain the melodic sensibilities of the first. Lamentations’ ability to weave songs together seamlessly is a crucial component of this album and is one of its greatest strengths. ‘Ire’ sees Lamentations reach their heaviest point in a track that places crushing guitars and machine-gun fire style drumming at its forefront. Danny ‘Jungle’ Jacob’s vocals also deserve a shout out here, too. His performance bursts with menace and hellfire, making for a performance worthy of a gothic horror villain.
After an emotional rollercoaster of labyrinthine proportions, Lamentations close the album with ‘Nurture’, a 14-minute epic best heard with headphones on and rain in the sky. There are so many layers in this track that it is impossible to digest every aspect of it within one listen. In fact, you could probably listen to it six times and focus on a different instrument each listen – the soaring keyboards, the ever-moving drums, the doom-laden bass – and still be surprised each time you listen. I’m not normally the biggest fan of ‘fade-out’ endings, but for “Passion of Depression”, it feels perfectly natural, like waving goodbye to a UFO as it slowly disappears into the sky.
I’m not even sure if there’s anything else I can say that can appropriately express just how wonderful this album is. All I can do is beg you to listen and hear it for yourself. “Passion of Depression” is bewildering, dazzling, and beautiful, and Lamentations should be proud of what they have achieved here.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Prodigal
02. Anew
03. Shiver
04. Sombre
05. Ire
06. Obeisance
07. Nurture
LINE-UP:
Danny ‘Jungle’ Jacob – Vocals, Guitar, Flute
Chris Stropoli – Drums, Vocals
Michael ‘Prophet’ Moore – Guitar, Vocals
Jose Figueroa – Bass
LINKS:
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