A desire for slumber, long darkened road towards a dream that will forever last, transfigured into a horrid vision of bleakness and despair. Another story unfolds, right before the ink drops to the floor, the completion of the first pages of the manuscript of Doom and vagueness. Nothing is carved in stone, only time will tell what the future holds. A little after the release of their latest full length release, "A Map Of All Our Failures", the Doom / Death Metal monks MY DYING BRIDE return with a short message, not an epilogue or a prologue, just a small token of tracks that were never released, aging from the recording sessions of "A Map Of All Our Failures". Peaceville Records issued "The Manuscript", a presentation that some might proclaim as leftovers, but as a matter of fact, what is bestowed within this EP isn't that different from the latest deeds of the band that has been highly influenced by BLACK SABBATH, CANDLEMASS and CELTIC FROST.

"The Manuscript" displays three major epics, one being the self-titled effort, along with a tune named "Only Tears to Replace Her With", merely a narrations and chants followed by an mega melancholic requiem of the lost and dead. Taken from their latest release, MY DYING BRIDE kept their same composure on these tracks as well, diverting their music between slow paced forlorn smothered in depth entwined with a measure of harshness that has always been one of the band's qualities since day one. Through the adequate riffing of the opener, "The Manuscript", and its haunting atmospheric flavour, I was able to remember the enchanting pleasures of the latest album. The violin sounded so exquisite while the harmonies crept from beneath. So much drama as if it was an unending play, always searching for path to carry on its script. "A Pale Shroud of Longing", though coming as the third track, in a way emulated the former track's following chapter. There are plenty of BLACK SABBATH hinters of the early 70s, merely the "Black Sabbath" album, tuning with lead play of the violin before the belly of the beast carrying full blown heaviness. Aaron Craighan, as always, presented with graceful vocalic performance. I liked this track but over time it got a tad boring, gladly that short after its half it began to develop into something a bit snappier. "Vår Gud Over Er" was quite alright, the harsher one of the few inflicted with an CANDLEMASS meets the austere CELTIC FROST plague, enjoyable harmonies, but evolved into a tiresome filler reprising itself enough for me to endure.

MY DYING BRIDE awarded a small bonus from the latest album's session, ended up with a commendable offering that is no doubt an honorary addition to their already prosperous legacy.