Band: Winters Album: Black Clouds in Twin Galaxies Label: Rise Above Rating: 8/10 Website: http://www.myspace.com/ winterstheband BUY NOW!

London based trio Winters return with their full length debut album. This carries on in much the same way as the E.P. carrying on doing their own particular brand of alternative tinted doom. The album has been released yet again through doom label rise above records adding another great album to their growing catalogue. The album kicks in with the track fried opening with a good steady rhythm before breaking in with the line, "Someday soon I'll feel in control. I believe in everything wrong". This sets the tone for the album. The songs covering a sense of alienation, of not quite fitting in, and despair at the mundane aspects of life. The album has the same gloomy feel as on the E.P. however as this time it's a full length album featuring eleven songs the band has had the chance to fit a bit more variety in, with some changes of pace. Songs like Endless Fight taking the pace up past the standard plodding pace of many doom bands. Endless fight is then followed by the track life was simple taking the pace back down with a nice opening melody, before building up with a heavier riff. The lyrics covering what I guess would be a failed relationship; however the song writing is often ambiguous keeping the proper meaning of the song secret. The songs, as on the E.P. remain relatively short for the style averaging around three minutes, the album in its entirety lasting just over 40 minutes. This makes the songs quite an easy listens for a genre where you can wait ten minutes for a song to get past the intro. The only long song on the album is the album title track black clouds in twin galaxies; a six minute long song, ending off the album well. As with the E.P. one of the main attractions of the album is the mix of influences. The band has listed 70s hard rock influences, prog bands, 60s pop, and 90s alternative. This break from the traditional sources of inspiration for a stoner or doom band has given them a unique sound of their own. This combined with Paul Fyfe's vocals. These are slightly unusual for the genre and for some doom fans may be a bit of a turn off, however I personally feel they work well within the overall sound. His voice purveys the sense of gloom in there songs perfectly. It captures the sort of despair managed in non-metal albums like Lou Reeds-Berlin or Leonard Cohen-songs of love and hate, but then places it within a doom song. Heavy, melodic riffs add to the sense of despair. Despite all the despair contained in the lyrics this remains an enjoyable listen. It may be the 60s groups they list as an influence that make this an easier listen than many of their fellow doom bands, but whatever reason this, like the E.P. is an accessible listen. You could recommend this band for people into doom, Indy, post punk, and 70s prog and they would probably find something they liked. However this differs from the E.P. in that it feels like a more complete album. The band has been able to cover more doing a full album and seems like a more finished product. This is a band that could open doom to a wider audience. Joshua Johnson http://www.myspace.com/children_of_the_sabbath Back to Reviews