My metallic ventures of late have leaned towards nostalgia. This path however, id not previously indulged with. Uncovering this European scene of melodic Gothic Doom and gloom, unearthed parallels capture much of my attention as the tapestry of influence enriches. Yet to devise the matured atmospheres of Wildhoney, Clouds builds on the heals of Thrash Metal. Its weaker songs burdened by the tempo and intensity of the 80s scene, a hangover needing a cure. The dusky keys and tuneful melancholy struggles with reflexive sways into choppy aggro and sluggish groove.
Magic emerges when its macabre themes blossom. Funeral synths and grievous melodies paint its Gothic graveyard blues vividly. The record finds stride with songs like The Sleeping Beauty as its distortion guitars lean into the lurching terror Doom Metal. In other chapters the spell is broken by pivoting guitar solos. They wail dazzling flushes of theatric on the gallop of thrashing riffs and doubled drumming tempos.
To my ears, Clouds suffers its influences. Aching from within beautiful, inspired song writing emerging stiffly in its calm and dark temperaments. Stitched together through tropes not quite suited this vision, my ears can't help but linger on the disparities. One of which is Edlund's wretched poetic "cleanish vocal" readings and lightweight guttural growls, the latter of which surprisingly suited the dreary cumbersome tone.
In brief glimpses, its keys yawn similar to a favorite of mine, Always... I especially loved the arrangements utilizing cheap and effect Casio keyboard tones for its Gothic cast. I wouldn't consider Clouds great but It seems fitting that adoration can be bestowed if discovered in the right time. For me, that probably would of been in my youth when reveling over Cradle Of Filth's starkly Gothic take on Extreme Metal.
Rating: 6/10