Regrets

“Regrets” is the only …And Here I Lie full-length album. Material surrounding the short-lived faction is limited, although the bulk of the info available chalked this up to a doom/death metal approach. “Regrets” shows more shades of a depressive rock/metal album than the alleged direction. Elements of the metallic variety come around often, usually via harsh vocals and sections cranking up the heaviness. The record will overwhelmingly eschew these factors here and there, however, and cruises with the blues in its other vessel. What emerges is an enticing experience of sorrow, perhaps conjuring slight resemblances of Katatonia and others. While I will acknowledge there is a lack of foundational imagination, atmosphere works in the group’s favor. Then again, it seems that was the point.

Make no mistake: no matter how I skew this review, “Regrets” is primarily a metal album. A massive chunk of this, however, is locked up in soft guitar parts and somber songs casting down a melancholic rain. I would go as far as to say this is their songwriting nucleus. The first few tunes are driven in this direction, keeping the pacing slow and the guitar soft for the depressing atmosphere to brew. Heavy sections are prevalent, balanced between the softer patterns. The riffs are standard doom fare, yet the real effect is how the album shifts its tone from somber and soft to the doom elements smothering the semblance. Harsh vocals show up periodically during heavier parts, yet the record’s majority maintains a clean approach. I like the singer; his harsher bits sting hard, but the cleaner sections channel the forlornness pleasantly.

“Regrets” runs with this formula without batting an eye; this is how nearly all the tracks are designed. Safe to say its intended emotions are despair, isolation, all that fun stuff. I can’t put my finger on why, but …And Here I Lie makes it seem almost palpable, whereas other bands are clearly phoning it in. Again, this is hard to explain, though something to note. Other things worth mentioning? Well, surprises are few and far between. There is a fleeting blast beat section on “From My Window,” which brings out a larger hue of the doom metal influence. The woodland instrumental, “Fall Apart,” is eloquent and peaceful, making a nice shift into the album’s conclusion, which is another doom-laden number summarizing …And Here I Lie’s efforts. Fifty minutes is a little much, however, and while things stay fine up to the final seconds of “Regrets,” I’m glad when it keels over.

It could have used more death metal influences to zest it up. Another blast beat section out of the clouds or maybe a riotous eruption would have done wonders, and it always seems as if something of that nature is on the horizon. However, nothing to move the tunes out of their funk occurs, and thus “Regrets” stays in its depressive rock/metal domain. I like “Regrets,” but it is gravely limited given what it provides and its method of execution. What …And Here I Lie does is otherwise somewhat special, however. Few bands transmit an atmosphere so naturally. There is struggle in these riffs and ideas, budding through the album with authenticity rarely seen. A nice depressive rock/metal find, maybe up the avenue of sad stuff à la Katatonia.

This review was written for: www.Thashpit.com