Artist: Petrichor
Album: No Silver Lining: A Return to Rain
Year: 2018
Rating: 90/100
Two years on from their superb debut, Rain, Leeds based doom metallers Petrichor have decided to revisit the original album and do some fine tuning, as it were. So what has changed?
Well, Petrichor don't believe in overloading the listener with superfluous musical textures, instead only opting to add what they feel belongs there musically, which suits them just fine. What does go in, however, are keyboards that enhance their sound, and a gorgeous guest vocal turn from Vickie Harley on new opening track "This Too Must Die", which sets the tone perfectly. Like the original track on Rain with the same title, the new song has the same theme of doomed love and self sabotage, and Harley's vocals mesh superbly with the sonic clarity of vocalist and guitarist Jon "Crowbane" Crowder's soaring Dio-esque tenor. Elsewhere, "We Are the Fire" and "Nihilist" are the real jewels in Petrichor's bleak sonic crown: the former is a pagan revenge song which blends together a plethora of ideas seamlessly without being afraid to change things up if need be, the latter a sprawling 15 minute epic that comfortably darts between crushing doom metal and traditional heavy metal before its funereal ending to close the album off.
The fine tuning of material on No Silver Lining: A Return to Rain has worked a treat for Petrichor. It comes across as seamlessly worked and provides a new dimension to the band's sound. A new album is due to follow in 2019, and it's pleasing to see they're not prepared to rest on their laurels. A delightfully bleak listen, indeed.
Track listing:
1. This Too Must Die
2. Drown the World
3. As the Dark Steals the Light
4. We Are the Fire
5. Nihilist
