It is highly interesting to try to understand musicians that have a thing for sharing a certain pain, not necessarily theirs, through their music. I am not talking about the wish to end one's life through suicide of course, yet about the bleakness of sleepless nights, getting up into a greyish morning not willing to do anything, harbouring suffering deep inside without seeking the warmth of comfort as an aid or a guide. There can be many examples that many can share with the world. Once again I was facing a Doom / Death Metal band, once again I was succumbing to darkness, to a frail existence where no one should endure or take pride of. I was again deep in the greyness of life, the black hole of fear, into a place where daylight dies. Following great Doom / Death bands such as early PARADISE LOST, MY DYING BRIDE, KATATONIA, THE PROPHECY and NOVEMBRE, this American band that answers to the name of DAYLIGHT DIES, met my gaze and my fullest attention with their melancholic messages shared on their new album, "A Frail Becoming", fourth in number, once again via their label Candlelight Records. Just to make you rest in ease, this album didn't lead me into a pool of desperation, hitherto, it did swallow me as long as the dark music played.

The primary fixation that latched on to me on this release was the atmospheric nature of the material. DAYLIGHT DIES, though I haven't listened to their earlier material but I think that now I have a good reason to do just that, seemed to have put their energies on creating harmonic halos throughout their songs. Without following patterns of the early 90s, Gothenburg melodic Death Metal, DAYLIGHT DIES reminded me more of the British melodic pattern of older extreme Doom Metal bands that some I mentioned earlier. However, I believe that unlike the others, DAYLIGHT DIES took a step forward when it comes to the lead fretwork as this album consisted of a nice share of soloing bridging between the mighty, but silky, riffing and the harmonious ends. Along with their amazing sound production, partially made by the famous Jens Bogren (The mixing role mainly), "A Frail Becoming", while keeping the listener in the dark, juggled with intense mementos of sorrow with gloomy and grim heaviness commanded by striking guttural and low end growling and grunts, slow tempo rhythms while not discouraging the special toppings that showcased clear and poignant vocal performance, profound melodies and highly impressive soloing (Though I won't call it exciting shredding, yet those were ample and fitted the genre on display).

"Sunset" was a creative piece, stomping slowly with grinding teeth; it showed me how lucky I was to listen to such a wonderful orchestration. The melodies had a huge impact on this one. "Ghosting", seemed mostly as an instrumental than an actual song, pictured as a lost PARADISE LOST track of the "Icon" era. Though rather identical in its melodic playing style, which was similar to the Brits, I couldn't help not falling for it. It was catchy, undemanding, astounding and melancholic just what the doctor ordered. "Hold On To Nothing"centered me with its main lead guitar solo that lasted enough for me to virtually believe that I was standing outside in the cold, looking for something that wasn't there. I liked the fact that it was an illusion but I actually couldn't move. Nothing that special about that solo, most of the way it flair on the different octaves and tones sporadically, yet it was quite an enjoyment. As for the rest of the song, there is nothing better than the unison of growl and clean vocals. To conclude, DAYLIGHT DIES prepared a fine Doom dish for you guys, so I suggest that you haul ass and go by that from Candlelight Records.