LORD OF SHADOWS is an international Gothic Doom Metal band founded in 2021 by lyricist Shadows Valentine.  'Echoes of Yore' is the project's full length debut album. To help with the music side of the band, Valentine has recruited quite the ensemble. The music is written by Mike Lamb from the bands LIGHT FIELD REVERIE, SOJOURNER, REMINA, and LYSITHEA.  Clean vocals are provided by Heike Langhans, from REMINA, LIGHT FIELD REVERIE, LOR3L3L, and ex-DRACONIAN. Aaron Stainthorpe from the legendary MY DYING BRIDE provides death growls and additional clean vocals. Rounding out this cast is SOJOURNER's Emilio Crespo, who provides vocals on track 3 and Jakob Olsen who tracked the drums. This album has a magical sound to it, perfectly captured by Mike Lamb's production job.   The atmosphere and approach to the songs would fit very firmly into that 90s Gothic doom soundIt doesn't matter how often it is done or how many times I hear this style of 'beauty and the beast' Gothic doom....it just never gets old.  All that matters is HOW it is approached.  This album?  Approached with clear care, love and respect for the genre.

The album opens with 'Her Lips Were Poetry and Doom.'  Aaron's famous spoken word is in fine form here, the wonderful poetry smoothing falling from his lips.  As the song's brooding atmosphere and clean, Gothic keys provide a morose backdrop, the song gently flows towards heavier waters once Aaron's death growls.  He just doesn't slow down and gets better with age-he sounds magnificent. 'Faith of Thy Beloved' introduces Heike to the album and, as always, her voice is gorgeous in a mythic and ethereal way that is hard to describe. Her cleans provide a classic contrast to Aaron's death growls.  The music is slow like an impending doom that wants to take its time devouring you.  The ending is grandiose, Aaron's cleans and growls mixing together for a spine chilling performance.

'At The End of Our Eclipse,' features the impressive low growls of Emilio.  His approach is a little more brutal but the song calls for it as this is a sorrow filled dirge of darkness.  Heike's vocals are like a ghost floating through walls, touching upon bodies as they pass against the harsher edge of the song's undertones. The orchestral tones of 'She Was But An Echo Of Yore,' mix with the hammer heavy riffs so well and act as quite the delivery vehicle for Aaron and Heike's cleans--this song has a very regal quality to it, even at its darker points. Aaron's vocals are particularly aggressive but Heike's vocals are equal in terms of impressive tonality.  Jakob's drums continuously highlight the best parts of the song even while holding down a stark foundation.

'Through Memories, I Gave Her Life,' has absolutely wonderful guitar melodies and a dense rhythm that just won't give way as it devours all in its paths.  This song is long, deep, and a perfect example of Gothic doom metal. The melodic mid section, from the vocals to the guitar all the way to the voracious drumming is one of the best moments on the album. The first half of 'If Tears Are Forgotten,' is one of Heike's best performances.  Musically, it is beautiful in a way that is also forlorn and dreadful.  If death can be sweeping and epic, then that's how this song is for the first three minutes.  Jakob masterfully kicks off the distortion at just the right moment with the right attack, signaling the guitar to lay down a blanket of lead. Aaron's varied vocal style caps it all off and helps end the song as only he could.

The last song is 'Your Blood Weights Heavy,' is just as, well, heavy as the other songs but in a different way.  The emotional weight is immense, the pressure almost unbearable if you listen with a good pair of headphones.  Aaron's distorted spoken words are haunting and I can't think of a better way for the album to end. Gothic doom, not that it ever really went away, has seen a revival in recent years with some great releases from bands like CELESTIAL SEASON, THALARION, VEIL OF SECRETS, MY LAMENT and TRIBUNAL.  LORD OF SHADOWS' 'Echoes of Yore,' deserves its place among them.