Album Review: Alunah - Awakening The Forest

Six years after the world did its darnedest to implode, it's not surprising that we are in the midst of a doom revival. Though seminal bands like Cathedral and Candlemass have called it a day (the latter I'm skeptical of), doom is pumping strong in the metal underground. Bands like Electric Wizard and Sun O))) garner all manner of critical acclaim, and while doom is never going to barn-storm the charts, the scene is healthier than it has been in ages, because we are living in the aftermath of shattered dreams. Hope is a commodity that now is exceedingly rare to find, which shows up in the music we listen to. There are social reasons why you seldom hear feel-good metal anymore. Doom is the world's mood.

Alunah returns with their third doomy opus, a clarion call to the dark side that, like all doom, will require some patience. “Awakening The Forest” is an album of slow-churning songs that make the most of the warm, fuzzy guitar tones. It's a welcoming brand of doom, one that isn't as depressingly black as it could be.

“Bricket Wood Coven” shows both the good and bad side of the album. The song is built around a simple riff, there's a glorious tone, and the lead breaks buzz with the fuzzy energy of the olden days. On the other hand, most of the eight minutes is made up of that same riff repeated ad-nauseum, the vocals are mixed in a way that makes them sound too distant, and the main hook isn't the focus of the composition. It's there, but it gets lost in the droning.

“Heavy Bough” does better, with a churning main riff that brings a hint of groove into the depths of despair, a subtle juxtaposition that makes the doom far more interesting than playing a straight riff for five minutes. In a way, it almost sounds like a cross between Black Sabbath and Alice In Chains, which is better than my comparison suggests. This is a strong track with a stronger hook, and exactly the kind of song that doom metal bands don't write enough of. Even if it was slowed down to the appropriate level of misanthropy, it would work just as well, because it's simply well-written.

The title track backs down the tempo again, and here is where I get the full picture of what Alunah is trying to do with their music. They are mixing the weight and heft of doom metal with the ethereal quality of Sophie Day's voice, which is a noble attempt, although one I'm not sure particularly works as well as they would like. Rather than sounding sweet and alluring, her voice is more detached, which detracts from the clashing emotions they're aiming for. I can hear the potential, but the pieces don't quite fit together properly.

Simply put, Alunah lacks the power I associate with doom metal. Their songs are fine, but they don't bristle with the vitality of the genre's best. I don't feel the emotion that is supposed to have fueled the music, which is a vital component when there are so few moving parts. “Awakening The Forest” is a fine album if you're in the mood for doom, which I rarely am, but it's not the kind of album that is going to make a strong case for expanding it's limitations. It is doom through and through, which is fine, but it's mood is all it is.

If you're a doom fan, or you're looking for some pleasant music to accompany your dour mood, by all means check “Awakening The Forest” out. It's a good record, and it fits that mold. I just wish it had a bit more cross-emotional appeal.

Chris C

Music Reviewer

Chris is a professional intellectual. He graciously shares his deep thoughts on the world of music with the world. You're welcome.