DOOMMANTIA: Tears of Mankind

Tears of Mankind, which is mostly the work of one Russian guy Phil Skrobelin is an interesting project put out by the always curious and consistently doom label Badmoodman Music. The style, sound, and the atmosphere is essentially the same kettle of doom to be found on many other Badmoodman and Solitude Productions releases. It is death-doom that is tragically back-dated to the 90's and the original death-doom bands such as My Dying Bride and all that. There is nothing wrong with this really, especially if you are a fan of the 90's death-doom style but the predictability level is very high and dare I say is started to sound dated and well tired. However, the music contained within this album is full of strong melodies, fine playing, and dramatic vocals. The album is different in the sense it is spilt into two parts, the first half sung in English while the second half is in Russian. The texts are also 50% English and 50% Russian so don't ask me what the last four songs are titled, I just have to rely on what I hear which is depressive to psychedelic to crushing death and funeral doom.

All the trademark death doom ingredients are here from searing guitar parts, crushing riffs, to melancholic piano, keyboards, synthesizer and gentle ambience. There is nothing complex about the album. Nearly all the songs are filled with pretty simple arrangements but there are some well-thought-out passages of music that catches the ear. I have to go back to my opening comments: something about this sounds recycled and re-used and abused, whether it is My Dying Bride or any other number of death-doom bands from the 90's. Nothing sounds like a direct rip-off but it is a case of heard it all before and done better than this. The music does have some key elements to take note of however. The guitar at times is abrasive and cuts right through the listener and the drums are thunderous in parts. There is also a huge difference between the English and Russian sections of the album like this is really a split album of two different bands both playing in the same vein and style.

Real memorable tracks are few and far between but 'So Long And So Recently' stands out to me as a personal favorite. The way the track builds from gentle piano to some abrasive guitar and vocal is beautifully executed. 'In the Embrace of Eternal Sunshine' is dark and ominous and captivating while 'Deadly Desire' is a tour de-force of pounding drums, savage guitar work clashing with emotionally draining piano passages. By the time the second half of the album gets on its way, it loses me a little. It is not just that everything has switched to Russian but just the tracks are not as hypnotic to my ears. Newbies to the death doom scene could find this album enjoyable but those of us who have been hearing this stuff for the last 20 plus years may find it too little, too late. Not a bad album at all but nothing special but I am sure some death doom fans will disagree with me on this one....6/10.

Tears of Mankind @ Myspace
Solitude Productions Website