BELL WITCH — Mirror Reaper (review)

BELL WITCH — Mirror Reaper album cover Album · 2017 · Funeral Doom Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
5/5 ·
Warthur
A composition of a scale that was really only commercially possible in the digital age - physical releases are forced to split it up in various different ways - Bell Witch's Mirror Reaper is to funeral doom metal what Sleep's Dopesmoker is to stoner doom - a massive, sprawling exploration of the genre's basic principles cranked up to 11 and taken to their uttermost limit.

In this case, Bell Witch here offer a vision of funeral doom which takes it about as far as its death-doom-influenced roots as it can get; rather than fat, sick riffs, we are treated to sparse, gothic guitar tones and maudlin, melancholy lyrics. I hadn't heard that it was a tribute to Adrian Guerra, their deceased fellow bandmate, but it is certainly both suitable as a musical monument to a friend and as a distinct piece of art in its own right. Bell Witch take us here on a subdued, slow journey through their personal vale of tears, their grief overshadowing all, and what they have produced may not be the most heavy or extreme metal piece ever - it's almost a guitar-based approach to ambient music at points - but it is a powerful release which, whilst I'd want to be in the correct emotional mood to fully appreciate it, I am extremely glad to own.
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MorniumGoatahl wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Am I the only one who thinks this album is a greating steaming pile of crap? Not getting the hype at all.
siLLy puPPy wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Hear ya, Vim. I thought this was way too long and i was quite underwhelmed. Maybe another spin in a more attentive mood will change that
Vim Fuego wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I should be more careful with my language sometimes... This is definitely mood music, and I was in the wrong mood. I'll definitely give it another go though.
Warthur wrote:
more than 2 years ago
If you find buggery boring then you're doing it wrong. ;)
Vim Fuego wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I can't have been in the right emotional state. I found this boring as buggery.;)

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