Search - Throes of Dawn :: Binding of the Spirit

First-rate atmospheric dark metal

Matthew | Pittsburgh | 01/31/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The execution of this band's music is delivered with maturity and finesse, and is backed by strong rhythms and majestic, epic melodies, enveloping orchestral synths that are doing much more than just filling space, and the standard intense vocal rasps are broken by tranquil periods of soothing clean vocal harmonies. Definitely quality Dark/Melodic Metal. Granted, there is not much new going on here, but it has been awhile since I have heard a band do this well and in earnest. The song titles are more imaginative than usual and are definitely not your typical empty homage to Satan and his leather-clad hordes. The quality is consistent throughout, refined and technically precise as well as atmospheric. Much like one of my favourite melodic Black Metal acts, Graveworm, the tone of Throes of Despair is a misty gray, shaded with an appropriate balance of melancholia and off set tastefully by bits of well-placed aggression. The opening track, "The Last Rainbow Warrior Is Dead" showcases the band's integrity, putting their concerns for mid-paced and well-developed songs over gratuitous speed for speed's sake. "The War Prophet's Dream" opens with acoustic arpeggios and soft synths, intending to invoke the weather beaten roads to Medieval imagery that the genre is often criticized for, however, here I find the idea to be effective.
It works well throughout, especially when the motif returns for a whispered ambient interlude toward the middle of the song. The album's title track and "The Hermit" continue along in the same manner as above, on the borderline of getting a bit tiresome, but then along comes "Master's Garden," which houses a fusion of watery guitars, snare rim shots, and feathered synths that instantly reminded me of Fields Of The Nephilm's later, dreamier years on the "Elysium" release. "The Wanderer" picks up the pace again, a descent though not stellar song that is saved by some more fantastic guitar melodies in the interlude. "On Broken Wings Of Despair" is the final full length track on the CD, and though today such titles are usually an empty promise, the lush, moody orchestration and chilling ghostly vocal harmonies instantly caught my attention and sunk my heart - the song definitely lived up to the title. Easily the album's highlight, reminding me of a creative fusion of My Dying Bride, Lacrimas Profundere, and Dark Tranquility in their most beautiful and melancholy moments. The obligatory synthetic orchestral epilogue brings the CD to a close, and I for one was feeling pretty satisfied. Throes Of Dawn shook a part of my musical tastes awake that had been lying dormant for some time. This is an excellent release, and I highly recommend it to dark metal enthusiasts.* Extracted from my review at StarVox.net"

Binding of the Spirit

behemoth1985 | Chicago, IL United States | 10/02/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this band is amazing i think this is the best dark metal out there right now unless someone can convince me otherwise! Their guitar work brings the best atmosphere of dark metal on this album...The vocals are screetch-growl type like most dark metal bands...and the good thing is that this band stays true to harsh dark metal vocals unlike Autumnblaze and Agalloch(The Mantle) that progressed much into cleaner vocals...The one band that comes into my mind that is close to throes of dawn is nocte obducta but still is experimental..Overall this album has great vocals, guitar work, and keys...i strongly recommend this album for people who are into melodci black metal, dark metal, and death metal."