Autumnal
Grey Universe
5.7
Having recently completed a mini-tour with Katatonia, I admit I was hoping for a sound along the lines of Novembre in Spain’s Autumnal. Despite their logo, their moniker’s relation to Fall, and the death metal in “You Left It, But There’s No End,” Grey Universe cannot be mistaken for anything other than doom. Though I’m no doom expert, De Pablo’s shaky clean voice interspersed with his growls reminds me of My Dying Bride’s vocal approach. And while the majority of Grey Universe is typical doom, the inclusion of cello adds another dimension to their sound even if their debut is average, or in other words, simply par for the course.
Still, the convergence of growling, double-bass, cello, and an upbeat tempo in “It Lays Over the Leaves” is mighty impressive, leading me to think that perhaps more exploration, or even a move from doom to death a la Novembers Doom, may not be out of the question in the future. However, lengthy songs like the 11-minute “As Soon As You Die, Kill Me,” the nine-minute “Cemetery of Screams,” and the other 11-minute dirge “Today, Tonight” make it clear that Autumnal are first and foremost a doom band.
What’s unusual is that Xtreem Music is mostly known for death metal, so Grey Universe doesn’t necessarily fit in with the rest of the label’s catalog. In any case, Autumnal are at least somewhat unique – thank the cellist – but are also less compelling than much of what I’ve heard before. Their take on this style isn’t quite what you could call fresh, either.
