This is not what one would expect from Haemorrhage vocalist Fernando "Lugubrious" Errazquin. With then-unknown instrumentalist Miguel A. Gutiérrez (now in Autumnal), duo known as Heavenshore released only this one EP, which does look like it is a grindcore thing, eh? "Heavenshore"? Sounds and looks like a Christian metal piece, more like... Hey, it was a cool find for one Euro, because it was released by Repulse Records, right?!

Actually, this is a story of universe called Heavenshore created in Fernando's mind. The lyrics include loads of early-to-mid 1990s doom/death metal style vocabulary: "A nocturnal fetish, by the obscure past", "in the crypts of nebulosity", and "in front of the grey eminence of October". And it's anti-Christian, dealing with his existential battle (look at the title of the EP). I presume...

One of the first things that hit me was the sound which is thin as hell, so graphic equalizer comes in handy. The thing sounds more than airy, and it is evident that the drums are synthesized. The samples and programming are good enough, but the drums sound somewhat clicking. But the keyboards sound bad, and that wind effect is of Oric Atmos quality. The guitar is buzzing like a bee, not a swarm of them, and when it is in the front, it is very much annoying. The vocals are very reverbed, and talked ones are without any feeling. The blackish orc-throat growl is okay, but the reverb takes its power away. So, this does not sound good. Instrumentations are suffice enough (acoustic guitar and bass being good at times), just and just. Do not expect to hear any Eddie Van Halen, Les Claypool or Jean-Michel Jarre here. This has that bedroom-quality all over it, but this is far from the worst forays in that. Still, how the fuck was it possible not to make a drum machine play in time?!?!

Now, about songwriting. It is varying. On the opener, cold, discordant guitar chords lead to weird funeral doom melancholiness with rather annoying spoken words, before going into full metal gear before archaic-sounding "cembalo" parts, reminding of Greek band On Thorns I Lay's first steps; it is weirdly Romantic all in all. '...While Your God Is Dying' has great guitar melodies, and with its tone it bring the names of Finns Fall Of The Leafe and Swedes Katatonia to mind, being Romantic melodic death metal (and their earlier work). Abruptly going into acoustic guitar with 'Orion'-ish (Metallica) lead guitar, with that ill-timed drum rogramming... More funeral doom, magnificent soaring guitar melodies, beautiful acoustic guitars, "cembalo" parts, dungeon synth-ism, children's choir, elvish female vocals and unforeseen compositional solutions happen later.

Some parts surely will cause some grimacing, but in all, this manages to be quite interesting for those who enjoy the building blocks used to create it. It has Romantic and melancholic vibes all around it, but definitely nothing evil or negative. 'Between Human and Divine' is a peculiarity, probably sentenced to obscurity, but still recommended.

Rating: 6 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
02/20/2021 10:32