If you are into Doom scene, and are part of Doom related internet forums, you must have come across APOSTLE OF SOLITUDE. The sad fact is that I have only come across the name before, and have never listened to them before, and so when I found out that their new record is coming up, I thought, what better way to get into them than check out their new record, "From Gold To Ash" which is released this February 23rd. OK, let's fucking Doom!
The album starts with a very heavy 3 min song in "Overlord", which has all the juicy riffs that you could ask from a fast paced Doom band. It's a train wreck of thick dirty juicy riffs, with some barely audible growling vocals. "Ruination Be Thy Name" has some good chunky riffs, but it's the clean vocals that really impress me. The clean vocals, along with the sharp long solos, really stand out in this song. "Autumn Moon" is a sweet acoustic 90 seconds song, and honestly, although has nothing special, was smoothing and impressive. "Keeping The Lighthouse" is a slow Doom number, with more juicy riffs and haunting clean vocals, but the riffs from 3:50 are just pure insanity. This is what Doom was always about - slow, heavy and haunting.
The longest song in the record "My Heart Is Leaving Here" is a slow burner, just like a Traditional Doom song is supposed to be. It has some good song writing, but the song progression is too late and too slow for my liking. "Monochrome (Discontent)" is another long 7 min burner, but is different from the previous one in its song structure and riffs. It's got the 'drone' effect going on along with its guitar riffs, which makes for a great Doom sound, and also possibly the best song of the album. The album ends with another 7 min song in "Grey Farewell", which has a lot of the 'drone' effect going on along with the guitar work, but has very little to offer more than what the previous songs have already offered.
Some people may judge this harshly for being the band's 4th full length record, but for me, as a new audience, I loved "From Gold To Ash" for what it was, even with all its drawbacks. If you are looking for something very unique or genre defining stuff, this isn't for you, but pick this one to feel the Doom.
