Genre: Gothic doom metal
Origin: Italy
Released: 2009
Website: Resonance Room
Label: My Kingdom Music
Uploaded: 01.03.10

Isch, the word ’gothic’ completely contaminates the wonderful continuation of the description; doom metal. Doom metal is a genre that can absolutely overwhelm with emotions when done correctly, but I’ve never liked any kind of gothic aspect to any type of genre. So my worry lines are showing, right from the get go. But I have to say these Italian lads definitely surprised me, ‘cause I thought it’d be much more moping and moaning, but they do have a healthy amount of heaviness comprised into their highly emotional compositions.
There’s a whole lot of death metal chunkiness popping up every now and then, giving some of the songs a truly crushing groove. To me, someone not into too mellow metal, I’d definitely like to hear more of the really heavy bits. But when it really does pop up, like in Far from grace, they slickly mix it with their own variant of keyboard melodies. It works out really well since you get both power and atmosphere, and some of these sections showcase Resonance Room’s more progressive side of the matter as well. May it be unusual tempos, unorthodox drum beats, jazzy guitar lines or whatever; it still works out very well. So I have to give them kudos for being able to mix and match from all over the place, but still winding up coherent. Overall it is that semi-atmospheric and emotional goth doom that might not really be my cup of tea (mostly due to the vocals), but the compositions do function properly in every which way.
I’d like to hear a lot more growling and screaming, ‘cause when they do incorporate that into the tunes it gives it a much needed aggressive touch. As it is now it’s almost exclusively clean vocals, and albeit quite good ones it still sounds as though he doesn’t really have the nerve to let loose all his inner emotions and pour his heart out in the singing. It’s a bit too mellow, vocally, and more power in that department would enhance the overall experience. It’s certainly not my cup of tea, as stated several times already, but I do still somehow get the hang of their appeal. Ignoring the lyrics (which are somewhat depressive) the music doesn’t really feel all that depressive, but just slightly sorrow filled. I don’t know, but I guess it’s something for the Katatonia fans out there who aren’t afraid of a little progression.

Tracklist:
01. Unreason
02. Escape
03. Far from grace
04. Maybe you are...
05. The warmth of life
06. Frost and emptiness
07. Bloodred
08. A prayer
09. Instants of madness
10. While I'll burn
11. Unspoken