My Dying
Bride – A Map of all our Failures (2012)
Peaceville
Review by Jude
Felton
Has it really
been 20 years since Yorkshire, England’s My Dying Bride first laid waste to our
sense of hope? Yes it has, my filthy friends, as 1992 saw the release of their
debut album As the Flower Withers, and they are still going strong.
A Map of all
our Failures is the band’s 11th studio album, and quite frankly it
is an epic journey into doom, despair and loss. Clocking in at over an hour,
each of the 8 songs contained on the album weave a punishing, yet beautiful
array of music. To call My Dying Bride a Doom metal band would be very apt, yet
also a little limiting. A Map of all our Failures does contain an almost
melancholic sense of despair to it, but it is such a beautiful album with so
many layers that to tag it under any label is a little unfair.
This is the
sort of album that you really need to invest a little time into; with The
Poorest Waltz being the shortest tune, at 5 ½ minutes, right up to the almost 9
minutes of Within the Presence of Absence. It is not a casual listen, and some
listeners, especially those unfamiliar with My Dying Bride’s musical output,
might find it a little intimidating. Don’t be put off though, as this is an
album with rich melodies, bone-crushing heavy riffs and the vocals of Aaron
Stainthorpe are just superb. Listening to A Map of all our Failures is, to me,
the aural equivalent of the first Hellraiser movie; it’s a journey to hell, but
definitely one you want a ticket for.
Eleven albums
into their career and My Dying Bride continue to deliver the goods. A Map of
all Our Failures is a raw, melodic and quite wonderful way to spend of hour of
your time. Give it a blast at your earliest convenience.
A Map of all our Failures is released by Peaceville and is available now.
