Album Review: Grief Collector - From Dissension to Avowal (2019)

Today, I'll invite you on a journey through grief. We will experience grief via five steps. Those steps are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Fortunately, we will not be alone on this journey. Guidance is musicked by Minneapolis-based band Grief Collector, a three-piece group of musicians from the Doom Metal universe.

For half an hour Grief Collector's first album presents the five steps of grief via a halting, massive and versatile Progressive and Doom Metal atmosphere. Classic Doom passages heavily stomp through thick swamps of deep and dark riffing. Meanwhile, both rhythms and melodies convey a strong impact from Progressive Metal. Further, there is this gloomy and horresque air leading through "From Dissension to Avowal" created by clattering sounds in the background the interposing of Death Metal-like grunts.

As mentioned before, the three members of Grief Collector are no unknown people in the world of Doom Metal and beyond. The heavily marching backbone of "From Dissension to Avowal" is created by drummer Brad Miller (Among the Serpents). The warm, intense and massively distorted Bass and guitars were played and recorded by Matt Johnson (Signs of Reign, Scream at the Sun). The most illustrous member of Grief Collector though is singer Robert Lowe (among others: Candlemass, Tyrant, Solitude Aeternus) who thrones above the gloomy, dark, heavy soundscape like an unholy priest. Lowe whispers, sings in strong chorals, moans and grunts, and each of his singing voices is just captivating.

"From Dissension to Avowal" is a fascinating piece of Progressive Doom Metal itself. The enormous width may let you forget itis actually a concept album you are listening to. Referring back to that, "From Dissension to Avowal" reappears with even more force. Grief Collector accompany their audience through five steps of grief by musicking and illuminating each stage highly detailed.

Photo credit: Encyclopaedia Metallum

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