Artist: Daylight Dies
Label: Relapse Records
Release Date: 10/1/02
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Title: No Reply Artist: Daylight Dies Label: Relapse Records Release Date: 10/1/02 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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Abyss's Review:
I actually had the luck to see this band perform at the exact same time I was assessing their album for this review. I'm not sure if that helped them or hurt them though. See, I started listening to the album and thought it was pretty cool, then I saw them play and thought they were awesome, then I started listening to the album again and realized I liked seeing them live better. Of course, the band shouldn't be blamed for the fact that I'm generally in a better mood when I'm drunk at a metal show than when I'm listening to an album on the subway on my way to work. Or maybe they should...
"No Reply is this North Carolina band's first full-length record, and it's definitely a worthwhile endeavor for the average metalhead." Anyway, No Reply is this North Carolina band's first full-length record, and it's definitely a worthwhile endeavor for the average metalhead. Daylight Dies play a death/doom style that is most easily comparable to the masters Opeth. Daylight Dies take a less epic approach to their sound however, relying mostly on nothing but two guitars, a bass, and drums. Their sound is both stripped down and ambitious at the same time. While this band doesn't rely on overly far reaching arrangements like others in the genre, they make up for it with solid and interesting songwriting.
But while their songwriting is their biggest asset, their overall sound is their biggest fault. The problem with it is that the entire album sounds pretty similar to itself. This tends to make the listener get a little bored after awhile, which is unfortunate because this band is pretty damn talented. I do consider them a raw talent, however, and hopefully this is something that will begin to evolve into something more special as time goes on.
"Not a perfect debut by any stretch of the imagination, but a good start. One word review: Promising." I really like the guitars, as they use melody often, but sparingly enough that the music doesn't seem to lose any weight. The vocals are purely growled, so don't be looking for any flowery female leads or anything like that, but rather just try and enjoy the plodding, slow-paced riffs. Each song is pretty damn good, they just all sound the same for the most part.
In conclusion, this band has a lot to work with, and are off to a great start. I would like to see them refine their sound a bit, and maybe play around with production a little bit to break up some of the monotony. Not a perfect debut by any stretch of the imagination, but a good start. One word review: Promising.
Death's Review:
It's kinda strange. Daylight Dies have all of the elements on paper. In practice, their music is less than completely inspiring. Sounding as if influenced heavily by the old Opeth/Anathema/Katatonia/Amorphis/Peaceville Records school (you know, death metal with harsh vocals, a touch of melody and a somber, midtempo feel), Daylight Dies are nonetheless an American band (from North Carolina, no less). The label press touts this as part of an American "doomdeath" revival. Interesting. I think there should be a such a movement, and applaud this general musical direction. While No Reply is a competent and generally entertaining release, none of these songs really carries the visceral weight the material demands. To be fair, the production is a bit thin, and (while it isn't terrible) there is surely room for improvement there. The vocals are very good and sound right for this style, adding a secondary emotional value to the music. And the music is competently played. For me, it just comes down to the songwriting. These tunes are good, but there is nothing here to grab you and insist you take note. Perhaps the nature of the doomy beast is to slowly attack from behind, if you know what I mean, and there is enough here to ensure a few more listens once I send the review. But after spending a week with the album it is not hitting me enough yet to cause me to burn for repeated listens. That urge to find the CD player just isn't there. I'm not sure why.
"While No Reply is a competent and generally entertaining release, none of these songs really carries the visceral weight the material demands."
Perhaps the live experience may help. Something tells me we will be hearing more from the band in the future. For now, it is just good to hear this type of sound coming from these shores for a change. If you hunger for all manner of "doomdeath," you will surely want to give Daylight Dies a listen. I'd be interested to hear what MJ's Requiem had to say about this one.
"It is not hitting me enough yet to cause me to burn for repeated listens. That urge to find the CD player just isn't there. I'm not sure why."
Hel's Review:
How appropriate - as I sit here typing this review, the sun is going down and my office darkens as the "daylight dies" - talk about timing... OK, let's! I had just completed repeated listens of both Orchid and Morningrise in preparing my Opeth classic review, and then I put No Reply into my player. I was confused for a moment - had I forgotten to change CDs after all? The similarity was so strong.
"I may very well walk around for the rest of my life considering Daylight Dies an Opeth clone."
"Bottom line: talented band + derivative sound = a fun listen." I've had some trouble getting past that initial experience, and may very well walk around for the rest of my life considering Daylight Dies an Opeth clone. But certainly, there are worse things to be, and even being eligible for such a comparison is an accomplishment. Inherent in this comparison, you see, is that the band members must have formidable musical skill - for to be compared to Opeth is to be compared to a group of the most talented musicians and songwriters imaginable. So Daylight Dies is definitely no crappy throwaway band. Yet, they still sound a lot like Opeth, sans clean vocals, 'cause you won't find any of that namby-pamby crap here.
What you will find is solid songwriting, virtuoso guitar playing, and lots of dark melodies. If you long for more music that reminds you strongly of early Opeth, well, hell, you've just hit the freaking jackpot! If you're irked by bands that sound so much like another band, well, you may find yourself irked. But Daylight Dies is talented enough in their own right that they deserve a listen before you decided they're just too derivative to bother with further. Bottom line: talented band + derivative sound = a fun listen.
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