My Silent Wake- My Silent Wake

There’s something about the nature of British climate that seems to inspire the spawning of numerous bands that appear on the surface to be less than ‘happy’ in the traditional sense. Somehow it is hard to imagine the Sisters of Mercy hailing from sunny Spain, or Paradise Lost growing up on a Mediterranean isle. Leeds and Halifax (two of the most rainy places in the world) you can however understand.

It is no surprise then to find that My Silent Wake hail from the UK, with its ‘blink and you’ve missed it’ summers, and drawn out winters. Kind of like Narnia, but without the fantastic inhabitants.

Formed in 2005 from the ashes of other scene bands, MSW recorded and mixed this, their first EP, in just ten short hours. A two track affair, this is doom at its best, leaning more to the goth side of doom than the metal side. Comparisons can be made to My Dying Bride, and to Paradise Lost, albeit before they lost their true doom roots and turned into the Sisters.

Opening track, Your Cold Embrace is a nine-minute epic, a storming barrage of resounding drums, and reverb drenched guitars. The vocals suit the mood, reeking of despair and agony.

The second track alters the feel slightly, with its clever use of dynamics helping to shift the mood throughout the song from down-tempo misery, to crushing riffs.

Since this EP, My Silent Wake have progressed, already releasing their first full-length album to critical acclaim. They have also recruited a new female backing vocalist and cellist, which no doubt will broaden their sound.

If you want to feel the misery that a British winter can bring, get hold of the aural misery that is My Silent Wake. To steal a Candlemass album title, Epicus Doomicus Metallicus!