The Pale Hunt Departure

Today I've got the last four CD's I was expecting to get for this April, and I intend to, in time, review them. For now, I'll talk about Novembers Doom latest album "The Pale Hunt Departure".

One of the things I've allways liked in Novembers Doom is that they are quite explicitly conceptual. But even if that is true, their development as a band isn't as nice as it could... A short biography:

Novembers Doom was formed in 1989, but it was only in 1992 that they presented the world to their Doom Metal sound in a two tracks demo, which lead them to 1995's "Amid Its Hallowed Mirth" their first and most recognized conceptual work. After that one EP and two more CD's were released, as well as a tour promotional CD. But all that works aren't seen as art pieces by themselves: they are just complements to the Hallowed Mirth, and a proof that the band was still creating. Only something to remark over that period of time - in 2001 "Amid Its Hallowed Mirth" has seen a great re-release, under Dark Symphonies label.

In the end of 2005 they shook the Doom Metal scene once again, with this "The Pale Hunt Departure". Having lot's of similarities with Amid Its Hallowed Mirth, now they present as an improoved version of their Art - both technicly and conceptualy. An well more defined concept is presented to us and a powerfull blast of emotional Metal. This isn't an "WOW" release, but it's a very good one, that shows us who Novembers Doom really are, what they want to say to us, and, specially, that you must be ready, because they're here to stay, and their future works will be really promissing.

For those who know their previous works, a warning: this time they have no female vocals at all - which is good since they now know they don't need them, and because that made them more defined.