MARIENBAD — Werk I: Nachtfall (review)

MARIENBAD — Werk I: Nachtfall album cover Album · 2011 · Doom Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
Time Signature
Come to Marienbad...

Genre: gothic doom metal

"Werk 1: Nachtfall" will be released in a German language version, and an English language version, entitled "Opus 1: Nightfall" (and in a combined version containing both, as far as I know). Unfortunately, the promo I have only contains the English language version, which is a shame because I would have preferred the other version - but, as far as I understand, the music on the two versions should be identical.

Genre-wise, we are dealing with doom metal with gothic undertones, and it seems to me that Marienbad are quite inspired by the likes of Paradise Lost and Tiamat - without being copycats, that is. Heavy by normal rock/metal standards, and a bit uptempo by doom metal standards, the music on this release is both dark and melodic. In addition to an inherent darkness in the doom-ladden music, Marienbad make use of additional epic sounding keyboard effect and dark melancholic piano-effects which contribute very well to the overall dark atmosphere of the album and also give it an epic feel.

While not very technical, the tracks on this album often have what strikes me as a more rock edge (without ever being un-metal) and evoke a sort of atmosphere recognizable from 90s alternative melancholic rock and 80s dark pop.

Musically, the album is quite well put together, but I am not a big fan of the snarled vocals, as I think they are rather incompatible with the otherwise darkly epic music, and I would have preferred a more varied and operatic style. There are certain places, though, where the snarls are combined with more moaning vocals, and that works quite well. I think perhaps that the vocals come across much better and more naturally on the German language version - and perhaps the vocals on that version work much better expressively, which is why I would have preferred having heard "Nachtfall" rather than "Nightfall".

In all, a very solid gothic doom metal release which should appeal to fans of mid 90s Paradise Lost and Tiamat.
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