One 27 minute epic track of gothic doom, that's what My Dying Bride have to offer with this latest EP The Barghest O' Whitby. Throughout this melancholic, crushing affair, the band deliver all that they do best; massive doom riffs, somber & growling vocals, pounding rhythms, plus keyboard and violin tapestries from new member Shaun Macgowan. Shaun "Winter" Taylor-Steels returns to the drum position for The Barghest O' Whitby, so in a sense you have a retooled and re-energized My Dying Bride, and the results are proof of that new spark. This is some colossal stuff here, massive in just about every aspect, owing much to Candlemass, Celtic Frost, and early Black Sabbath. Gotta love the chilling tone that Macgowan's weepy violin gives this monolithic track, as he weaves around the dirge laden riffs like a ghost searching for eternal peace. Though much of this epic is pretty damn heavy, there are moments of quiet tranquility and bleak atmosphere, showing that the band have not forgotten how to mix it up a bit.
If you love this sort of thing, then The Barghest O' Whitby, with its lyrical themes of superstition and folklore, will certainly thrill you with all its doomy glory. As a stopgap to the next full length after the interesting Evinta release earlier this year, The Barghest O' Whitby will do just fine.
Track Listing
1) The Barghest O' Whitby (27:03)