Who Dies In Siberian Slush - Bitterness Of The Years That Are Lost

Who Dies In Siberian Slush are a gem of gothic doom metal. Consider them a mix of Draconian (minus the female vocals) and Esoteric. Many of the tracks here on their full length debut are reworked from their demos, but all for the better. The doom metal focused ones are drenched in lengthy chords and reverb of depression that are slow and weighty; sometimes it is difficult to get through. The drums plod along with the gutteral vocals roaring in lament. But, Who Dies also makes a great use of piano for a classical addition which really makes the music much more bearable than the typical funeral death doom band that uses too much distortion to cloud the atmosphere for a dream like state, but at the same time ruins the quality of the music. Here, on 'Bitterness...' the focus is with the guitars which slice chord after chord with the vocals in tow, and often pausing for the drums to get in a few somber beats before being washed over by the guitar notes again.

The vocals, like so many other doom metal ones, are deep, but also clear and almost separate from the chaotic depression so they can be heard over the music. Sometimes, such as on the track "Leave Me," the piano bits can be heard too, which only heightens the quality of the atmosphere that the band tries to create. On other tracks, like "Mobius Rising" and "Testament..." they aren't as present and the guitars are mostly the mainstay with their long, chiming chords, but the music picks up a bit more so there is a bit more energy and dynamics going on within the music than just repetitive chords. "Mobius Rising" especially features a great solo near the end which is very rare in funeral doom metal because it breaks the spell of motonony.

There are a few interludes involved so listeners can take a breather. "Interlude" is simply a beautiful piano tune that sheds some of the depression, but at the same time offers a new outlet of it by not being random and happy or just out of place, as some interludes can be. "An Old Road..." sounds more like something from Agalloch as it is all acoustic and very folkish as it plinks away right before the crumbling and crashing title track. Here listeners are really thrusted into the most depressing atmosphere present on the album so far, which is mostly made of the guitar chords just slowly churning away with the keyboards somberly ringing in the background. The vocals are strangely absent from the mix and when they are present feature a low, almost empty spoken word format, like someone drained of all energy to speak or put forth an effort. Perhaps it is to reflect on the depressive journey that has accompanies listeners so far, and perhaps not. But, when the track closes, listeners are left with only a breathtaking silence that is almost unbearable, so instead they press play, and listen to the haunting journey that is Who Dies In Siberian Slush all over again. It's weighty and depressing, but at least very enjoyable in the classical sense.

  1. Leave Me
  2. The Woman We Are Looking For
  3. Mobius Rising
  4. Interlude
  5. Testament Of Gumilev
  6. An Old Road Through The Snow
  7. Bitterness Of The Years That Are Lost