Important notice for fans of melodic death doom: if you were looking forward to Swallow The Sun’s new (and monumental, if only because of its size, being a triple album) work, Enshine’s Singularity turns out to be more than an impromptu stopgap, as it is one of the best albums of its kind heard not only in recent times but ever. A surprise? Not really, considering that the previous album Origin (2013) had already convinced the listener and that Jari Lindholm himself, just a few months ago, had released another superb album, Aphotic Veil, this time under the Exgenesis banner with Colombian vocalist Alejandro Lotero (not to mention his contribution to Slumber’s only long-distance release, the excellent Fallout of 2004). In Enshine, the Swedish multi-instrumentalist avails himself of the voice of an old acquaintance of the European doom scene, Sebastien Pierre, already known for his work in the unfortunately disbanded Inborn Suffering and in the first incarnation of Lethian Dreams; also this time the spectacular combination of Lindholm’s sound scores and the voice of the transalpine singer proves irresistible, making Singularity yet another precious gem given by a musical genre that continues to extract emotions in profusion from its ideal cornucopia. Compared to Exgenesis, the sound is more atmospheric, even if the references to the more famous Finnish neighbours are always perceivable: what makes the difference is a surprising melodic taste, which blends superbly with Pierre’s rocky riffs and growl; certainly Lindholm’s guitar touch acts as an ideal trait d’union between his bands, which in the end prove to be complementary in the exhibition of their respective stylistic nuances. Exceptional tracks such as Dual Existence, In Our Mind and Dreamtide are those in which the melodic peaks are reached, guaranteed by the poignant guitar solos, while in other tracks the hardness of death oppresses the doom component without suffocating its melancholic progression (Resurgence, The Final Trance). Finally, there are elements that are linked to the well-rooted tradition of Scandinavian melodic death, especially with regard to the sounds of second-generation bands like Insomnium, and several trespasses into post-metal territories, especially in the magnificent closing instrumental Aphex. In short, Singularity lacks nothing to become triumphantly part of the list of the best death doom records of 2015, and not even Enshine lacks the talent necessary to deliver in a natural way the emotions that are sought after by those who love these sounds.
2015 – Rain Without End Records / Naturmacht Productions
Mournful Sounds 
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