Album Review: Mother of Graves – Where The Shadows Adorn (Wise Blood Records)

Wise Blood Records presents ‘Where the Shadows Adorn’, the new album from melodic death/doom guardians Mother of Graves. Due out on October 14th, 2022.

Forlorn melody gives way to the crushing sound of doom and death, warped by an unending sense of sadness. Mother of Graves layer the misery on thickly with the title track. An instantaneous hit of dejected and despairing metal. Yet, there is so much more to come and it’s as impressive as it is expressive.

Normally, when you hear something described as melodic doom and death, one of those elements will dominate more than the other. However, Mother of Graves have such a refined sound that the balance is near-perfect. Each track shifts and shimmers in different ways. The layers of melody, the doomy drops and deathly eruptions are exciting, interesting and pretty unforgettable. It’s all of this, and more, that enters the mind upon hearing Rain, Tears Like Wine and The Emptiness of Eyes.

Then there is Of Solitude and Stone, one of the most emotionally effecting tracks on the album. The melody is stunning but the it wouldn’t count for much if the blend of doomy horror and faster metal wasn’t so on point. Arguably the album’s finest point.

There’s still plenty more to feel though and with The Crown, Mother of Graves makes an already dark listen feel even gloomier. Before Ghost in The Twilight takes some unexpected steps in unusual directions to keep things sounding fresh. Mother of Graves then pulling the curtain down on the misery with the longest and most mentally taxing track, The Caliginous Voice. If you’ve been struggling to hold back the feelings of anguish up to this point, this track might push you over the edge.

Where the Shadows Adorn is a damn fine example of how melodic doom and death can make you feel in unforeseen ways.

Mother of Graves – Where the Shadows Adorn Full Track Listing:

1. Where the Shadows Adorn
2. Rain
3. Tears Like Wine
4. The Emptiness of Eyes
5. Of Solitude and Stone
6. The Crown
7. Ghost in The Twilight
8. The Caliginous Voice

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | Wise Blood Records