Stone Wings - Bird Of Stone Wings

Formerly known as Elysium, these Australian death-doomsters have released an excellent debut album "Bird Of Stone Wings." The album is a mix of melodic death metal and doom, culminating in the epic 23+ minute final title track.

Perhaps I'm too much of a black metal fan to properly describe what this album sounds like, but I'll certainly do my best. The closest band to their sound, in my limited knowledge of death-doom, is Morgion, but such a comparison is hopeless. Stone Wings is extremely melodic! There are keybooards providing beautiful atmospheric background chords, and they are especially noteworthy in "By Hell or Highwater." That track is one of my favorites! It opens with nicely played guitar arpeggio underneath a gorgeous melodic guitar line. Vocals are a groweled mid-range rasp, well-suited to the music. "Breaching The Castle Wall" shows the more death metal side of the band. It sounds almost like Subterranean-era In Flames. The final track is, of course, the masterpiece *doom* track of the album. Extremely slow, epically mournful, and grandiose, I'm counting 32 beats a minute here, it is most certainly worthly of any funeral dirge! Midway through the song, there is a short faster section, but it quickly disappears, and what emerges is sad but uplifting melodic doom.

Finally, the production is crytal clear, and unlike many doom albums, the guitars are not overpowering or crushing; there can only be so many doom bands that can try the heavy and slow as fuck routine. The mix is balanced between guitar, drums, keys, and voice; while I think the bass (still very audible) can stand to be slightly more prominent.

I must thank my friend for introducing this band to me. I've enjoyed it enough to finally track down a real copy of this self-released album through the band members. And while they haven't released anything since "Bird of Stone Wings," a split 7" with Mournful Congregation is in the works. Please, please, please visit their myspace page here: www.myspace.com/birdofstonewings! You'll find more information on how to obtain this hard-to-find gem on the page and hear some excellent samples.