Review Summary: A masterpiece of despair and sorrow, Dismantling Devotion is quite possibly one of the most important metal albums of the decade.
I can think of no other band that so perfectly blends so many emotions into such a perfect concoction of melancholy like Daylight Dies does. Every element of perfection is there. Not a single blemish can be found on
Dismantling Devotion. This is metal at it's finest ladies and gentlemen. While primarily a doom metal band, Daylight Dies is so much more than just that. Crushing guitars, acoustic passages, powerfully harsh vocals mixed with immaculate cleans, pummeling double bass and so much more,
Dismantling Devotion is quite possibly one of the most important metal albums of the decade.
I have yet to find a band that utilizes every aspect of sadness, despair and overwhelming sorrow to rip the darkness of our souls and throw it in our faces so honestly. From the opening beautiful acoustic riffs found in
A Life Less Lived to the ending sounds of shimmering waves in the instrumental track
Dismantling Devotion the album does not let up for one second in providing an epic soundtrack to the winter season. Opeth comparisons be damned,
Daylight Dies aren't trying to imitate anyone. This is quite simply a landmark album that anyone who enjoys listening to metal needs to hear.
The lyrics on this album speak to us in volumes. Take for example this excerpt from
A Dream Resigned:
Around my waist
Are the stones I have tied
The weight
Of choices made
Diverting thoughts
Of a dream resigned
I repress
I evade
Total disregard
You bear the burden
And I will carry on
The intelligence in the lyrics cannot be disregarded. Each one of us at times 'bears the burden' of dealing with tragedies in life, and it is how we embrace and cope with these tragedies which
define us. Make no mistake, many of the songs on this album are about the dissolution and futility of human relationships. Yet the songs on
Dismantling Devotion are about so much more. They speak to us about regret, hopelessness and feelings of worthlessness. They don't offer any hope, any gleam of better times to come. But that isn't why we need to hear this record. It is to
give in to these feelings, to let them consume and burn us alive. To let them empower and strengthen us. To realize that we can overcome and learn from our mistakes.
The final and title track as I had mentioned above deserves special mention as it is the most epic, haunting piece of music I have ever heard. It is astounding how a song without words can speak to your every thought and feeling. This is timeless music my friends. Perfect, brilliant and insightful all at once,
Dismantling Devotion will take you to another place in your imagination.At a time in my life where I need this kind of music more than anything to forge negative emotions and experiences into something creative and to cope, this record is the perfect solution to express the inner darkness we all carry at times and to exorcise our demons.
