Review Summary: My Dying Bride by the numbers. Good stuff, but nothing new or exciting.
My Dying Bride have already cemented their legacy as one of the founding fathers of doom. Early in their career they were lucky enough to release back-to-back classics, and the rest is pretty much history. Since then, the band have remained relevant but largely unremarkable. With one exception, they have managed to create a series of solid doom releases that are entertaining yet unexciting. The band’s latest EP,
The Manuscript, won’t be changing that pattern.
If you’ve heard any of the band’s latest releases, you’ll know exactly what to expect with this one.
The Manuscript is four more songs of morose doom featuring the unique vocals of Aaron Stainthorpe. If there is a minor difference, it is that each track seems to focus on a specific facet of the band’s sound. Opening track ‘The Manuscript’ sticks entirely to the slow, cyclical guitar melodies that have come to dominate the My Dying Bride sound, and the vocals are ‘clean’ throughout. The following track bumps up the aggression by throwing in a bit of the death metal influence the band has incorporated to varying degrees. The third song, ‘A Pale Shroud of Longing’, is a moody piece that places more emphasis on violin melodies and storytelling. The fourth and final track is good, but feels like an outro extended to song length.
There’s really not a lot to say about the latest My Dying Bride EP.
The Manuscript is a collection of four good doom songs that stick entirely to the MDB formula. There’s nothing exciting or innovating about the album – it simply exists. For fans that feel there’s always room for more My Dying Bride; make room because here’s more and it doesn’t disappoint. For those that are happy with the albums you already own, you won’t be missing anything special by sticking with them.
