Vessels of Grief

The Final Sleep

From their Bandcamp page, they are described as having "smart songwriting, which includes the use […]
February 8, 2022
The Final Sleep - Vessels of Grief album cover

From their Bandcamp page, they are described as having "smart songwriting, which includes the use of three guitarists, they are able to blend clean, melodic sections and three-part guitar harmonies with vicious heaviness, to generate a technicality in their work, all while preserving catchy, memorable songs. Melodic vocal lines blend seamlessly into deep guttural sections and three-part vocal harmonies. It's melodic, heavy, dark, uplifting and empowering." The album contains six tracks.

"Screaming in Silence" opens the album. It opens with a raucous energy from lead guitar and a heavy bottom end. The vocals are shouted amidst a very meaty bass line. It sounds almost Hardcore in this approach. Towards the end, an instrumental passage breaks out with plenty of melody. "Until it Ends" begins with more heavy and aggressive tones. Those bass notes really bring the music to life. The cleans in the chorus prove that Andrews is no one-trick pony, and the sound reminds me a bit of SHADOWS FALL in that regard. The combination of styles here is a bit odd, but it works.

"Pale Whisper" opens with clean guitars and some tense melodies. Following a heavy sequence, the sound drops a bit, as the title would suggest. The harmonies in the chorus are both agonizing as well as depressing. It segues into a harsher passage, with plenty of bite. "Soul in Between" begins with more heavy, dark tones. Deep gutturals segue into soaring clean harmonies in the chorus, but that dark tone abounds. It slows towards the end to put emphasis on that weighted sound. "Funeral Seed" opens with more horrid vocals and an aggressive rhythm. It segues to a slower, clean guitar sound with plenty of solemn tones. Back to the heavier sound, it bounces back and forth between these two styles.

"Eternal" closes the album. It's another heavy and slow moving song that soaks in the vileness of the vocals and the guitars. The clean vocal harmonies crescendo to a scream at the end with glass-shattering range. Overall, this was a fairly unique album that had some strong moments. But with just six tracks, there wasn't much of a chance to diversify their sound too much. The six songs essentially took on the same method. Like LEATHERWOLF from yesteryear, the three guitar assault is on, but they don't use much harmony in the guitars in the same way. I believe they band has potential to put out a better product next time, and they certainly have the chops to do so.

7 / 10

Good

Songwriting

7

Musicianship

8

Memorability

6

Production

7
"Vessels of Grief" Track-listing:

1. Screaming in Silence
2. Until it Ends
3. Pale Whisper
4. Soul in Between
5. Funeral Seed
6. Eternal

The Final Sleep Lineup:

Jeff Andrews - Lead Vocals/Guitar
Kevin Maloney - Guitar
Mike Stack - Guitar
Jay VanDervoort - Bass
Mike Van Dyne - Drums

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