|
Cover |
Musicians |
 |
Reinier Vreeswijk: vocals
Hubert ter Meulen: vocals, guitars
William van Dijk: guitars
Barry van Trigt: bass
Fred Provoost: synthesizer, piano, samples
Pascal Spierings: drums |
|
Release |
Label |
Cat. N° |
Playing Time |
Rating |
|
2004 |
eigen beheer |
- |
26’17’’ |
9/10 |
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Website |
Contact |
Style |
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www.whisperinggallery.nl |
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Melodic epic doom |
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Review by |
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Vera "Gothica" |
The interview I
had recently with the band was the forerunner of this new MCD of
Whispering Gallery ‘Shades Of Sorrow’. In a pretty, rustic cover,
the work of keyboard player Fred Provoost, one of the finest Dutch
doom metal bands strikes back with 26 minutes high quality music.
‘Shades Of Sorrow’ was recorded in the Excess studio in Rotterdam
and sounds spontaneous, endearing and overwhelming. A real
achievement to create this all self-financed!
I could have a taste of two songs at the concert in Tilburg on the
11th of April and these sounded great. The band itself calls it
their first real doom album, all this assimilated in four
compositions which bear the plain identity of the band. It is a
logical step subsequent to ‘Lost As One’, the songs are longer but
the polyphonic vocals and keys in the front remain the trade-mark of
Whispering Gallery.
Dreamy keyboards open ‘Darkness Falls’. The euphonious voice of
Hubert is supported by backing vocals of drummer Pascal. The
explosion comes when Reinier cuts in with his tremendous grunt. We
sit pretty and the vocal interaction keeps one of their absolute
highlights. All this would not be complete without the melodic
guitar-lines. Together with the exquisite keys they are the concrete
and clay of the music. ‘Ghost Inside’ has become a favourite cracker
since the concert. Here you can hear how even an explosive grunt can
hold some pure melancholy. A fine lingering atmosphere which is
never too slow though. Filled with longing, introvert piano
intermezzos and a chilling guitar solo: they have found the perfect
balance between sorrow and fury. ‘Desperation’ is a sensitive organ
point with folk influences where acoustic guitars and harmony vocals
are the centre. ‘Beyond The Light’ has a spherical intro, the dark
melancholic vocals of Hubert in front, later overpowered by the
chunky grunt. I keep wondering how all these complex vocals can
sound so homogeneous. Maybe we should call this doom metal opera,
because every vocalist sings his lines, but without the artificial
bombast that is typical on such productions. Anyway, it is not
important how you call this, just enjoy and with ‘Shades Of Sorrow’
Whispering Gallery can go for it!
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Tracklist |
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Darkness Falls (6’18’’)
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Ghost Inside (8’22’’)
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Desperation (3’38’’)
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Beyond the Light (7’28’’)
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