…And We Are Falling Leaves (Stygian Crypt Productions)

This album is actually the fine re-released version of the band’s first full length work, recorded and self released in 1997. For those familiarized with the emotive and introspective sound of this Russian quintet’s last two works, let me tell you this album is, as you probably expect, considerably rawer, heavier and obscurer, but shows already the emotive atmosphere that will lately become into their trademark. The style delivered at “…And We Are Falling Leaves” could be labelled as Doom Metal in the early nineties tradition with some slight (very slight indeed) Death Metal traces, bands like Anathema with its “The Silent Enigma” or even Paradise Lost with “Shades Of God” seems to be a strong influence on this record. The whole music moves slow and low, with intense, pretty melodic yet crawling guitar riffs accompanied by a varied vocal work that, unlike their latest two work, shows its most extreme side, the voice of Yuri ranges here, from the solemn clean voices, some rasping tones (kinda mid growling, in the vein of Vincent Cavanagh’s work in “The Silent Enigma”) to straight Death Metal styled grunts, this whole vocal work here creates an intense, dismal atmosphere accentuated by the sporadic apparitions of ghostly female voices. The keyboards are only a complement, but are used wisely delivering accurate backing atmospheres and some memorable melodies (just listen to the enigmatically beautiful “Fallman”). The production of “…And We Are Falling Leaves” is, although was re mastered (by the same guy who remastered “Black Wings”), very raw and somewhat saturated at some passages but clear enough to shows us the huge potential of this now-defunct band in its early days. As with “Black Wings” this re-released version has a different and much better artwork (the original one was pretty poor indeed) completely fitting with this band’s obscure facet, this version also includes two bonus tracks taken from some early (and never released) rehearsal recording, these two songs, even though are poorly recorded, shows us more of the band’s gloomy roots... “…And We Are Falling Leaves” is certainly a good album, an essential piece for those who are already into the sound of this quintet and a recommendable work for the early nineties styled Doom Metal worshipers. (AP)