SHATTERED HOPE “Vespers”

Fucking Your Creation Records, 2021

Music: Doom Death Metal / Funeral Doom Metal

Website: https://www.shatteredhope.gr/

Duration: 01:03:49 (5 Tracks)

Country: Greece

Containing bands such as ROTTING CHRIST, VARATHRON and NECROMANTIA, Greece is best known for its black metal scene. However, Greece has one of the largest populations of metal bands in Europe from all over the genre spectrum. In the case of SHATTERED HOPE, we are presented with a doom-death band with funeral doom tendencies. On their third full-length, “Vespers,” the Athens-based group lives up to their name through the creation of utterly frustrated, aggressive death metal, soul-crushing lyrics and melancholy-oozing melodies.

Containing only five songs with a running length of over an hour, “Vespers” is not for those with short attention spans. However, the album doesn’t become boring. The music is engaging and quite progressive. Funeral doom can be ultra slow and repetitive. That is not the case here. While there are definite moments of funeral doom, the album moves along without plodding in a pain staking way.

“In Cold Blood” kicks off the album with grueling, churning death metal similar to what MY DYING BRIDE did on “As The Flower Withers.” The bass is really heavy during this part. An organ provides a transitional point for the album to step down into moodier, more melodic soundscapes. Here the bass and guitars mesh harmoniously during the instrumental transition into doomed ringing chords. The song continues to wind down into more sinister sounds and morose chords. Samples also make way into this song, adding a sense of the theatrical.

Atmosphere is a major component of the album. It’s inherit in the depressive tones of the guitar, but also brought out through the varied instrumentation. Their instruments harmonize and often work in tandems. “The Judas Tree” and “Towards the Land of Deception” open with mesmerizing keys. Again, flow is important as pieces are added to the composition including the somber sound of a violin. Pieces are added and taken way, giving each instrument room to breath and singling out individual moods. There is a build to the guitars that arrive with such crushing power. They often build to knock down with long counts between each note. Playing slowly may seem easy, but the intricacies of these moments say otherwise, especially in the way Yiannis’s drumming fills in long gaps.

“Vespers” is a death metal album, but the stylistic notations mean there is much more involved in SHATTERED HOPE’s sound. Nick’s growls are monstrous and effective, but he doesn’t just growl; clean vocals also appear. “Verge” alternates vocal lines between clean and harsh. “In Cold Blood” reveals a violent sample of a shotgun being cocked and shot and dark revelations come in at the end. “Συριγμός” contains bleak, existential lyrics. As the title dictates, some of this song contains Greek language, but only the opening narration, which is a quote by Zorba The Greek. I’m not sure what’s being said here, but I get the feeling there is some dark introspection based on the song’s English-sung lyrics. Like “Verge,” this track also juxtaposes clean and harsh vocals including heavenly choirs.

“Vespers” is a wonderful album on so many levels. The album flows and each instrument meshes harmoniously. Each track is a glorious journey through various moods. The mix doesn’t overshadow any instrument and the conspicuous bass is a major plus. Legendary English doom-death acts such as MY DYING BRIDE as well as Finnish funeral doom stalwarts SWALLOW THE SUN and SHAPE OF DESPAIR combine for points of reference. “Vespers” is the product of a mild climate, but the harrowing notes will freeze the soul.

Tracklist:

1. In Cold Blood

2. Verge

3. Συριγμός

4. Towards the Land of Deception

5. The Judas Tree

Line-Up:

Thanasis-bass

Thanos-guitars

Sakis-guitars

Nick-vocals

Yiannis-drums