In the Valley of Tears

If Saint Vitus hadn’t splintered after the release of Die Healing, the follow-up album probably would’ve sounded a lot like Dawn of Winter’s 1998 debut album. The German outfit does a splendid job of echoing that true doom spirit as the simple riffs are executed in monolithic, downtrodden fashion while the vocals channel the nasally mania that defined Scott Reagers so well. Of course, that isn’t the group’s sole inspiration as one can trace elements of Trouble, Pentagram, and even The Obsessed among others in their downer rock dedication.

With these elements established, I must admit that In the Valley of Tears doesn’t exactly have the most adventurous execution. The drums and guitar feel somewhat static at times, keeping to steady patterns that rarely break the mold without the wild fills or freakout solos that made their inspirations’ minimalist writing more exciting to hear. The vocals are also something of an acquired taste; their sneers aren’t too much of an issue for me personally, but they lack the pathos needed to nail the melancholy that something like the title track’s breakup balladry calls for.

Fortunately, those hang-ups are hardly dealbreakers when the group manages to bring some solid songwriting. The opening “Fallen Empire” immediately brings a tight riff game while “Ritual Magic” and “Where Low the Ravens Fly” apply to more driving beats to the formula, the former hitting a desert rock vibe worthy of Wino and the latter hinting at a more epic rumble. I can also concede that the soft slowness that didn’t quite connect on the title track is put to decidedly better use on “Funeral.”

Overall, In the Valley of Tears is an enjoyable effort that paints a fascinating picture of doom metal in the late nineties. The old guard had all either disbanded or hit their lowest points of obscurity and with Reverend Bizarre’s debut still a couple years away, there seemed to be a vacuum to fill. As much as I prefer groups like Cathedral and Count Raven’s more unique attempts to do so, Dawn of Winter’s work is commendable and reflects their love for the genre with plenty of tight riffs and theatrical vocals. Their subsequent albums arguably improve upon the formula, albeit releasing at decade long intervals, but this should sit well with fans of true doom.