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DEATHWHITE
Ethereal EP

Self-released (2014)
Rating: 4/10

Six-track EP Ethereal is the debut composition from mysterious American melodic metal trio Deathwhite. The group revel in a mid to late 90s style of dark melody that has hints of similarities with Paradise Lost and Anathema circa that period, the similarities audible in the sense that the music is crystal clear yet with a sprig of the forlorn.

Throughout the framework of the six tracks on offer, the band attempts to cast long shadows of reflection amidst aching guitars and pensive drum plods which are laced with a grey hue.

Never depressive, instead, Deathwhite has carved out a record that is intriguing and enigmatic, but above all, there is an accessible fluidity to tracks such as ‘When I (Wasn’t) You’, which has a chilly gothic edge mixed with indie yearning. In spite of its lachrymose edge, the track – which follows the brief acoustic intro (‘Ethereal’) – grows and grows and becomes an ideal avenue to explore and kick off this unusual record.

Next up is the yearning ‘Give Up The Ghost’ which springs into life with an ashen set of chords, but for the most part is a creeping, simmering journey of stormy melody. Through its deep passages and wispy clamour, there is a tinge of French rockers Alcest throughout. The track kind of aches and mourns without dragging the listener into pale pools of despair, but it’s not the sort of stuff I’ll be playing on warm, summery days.

‘Silenced’ comes next; the buzzing intro has a Katatonia edge to it, and of all the tracks on this EP it’s this one which offers most weight, but I cannot escape from the rather bland, yet arty feel of this composition. Vocally, it’s rather dreary and one of negativity as the clean tones tend to float without passion on the haze of the downbeat rhythms. That’s not to say that this opus is an ode to misery, but the whole “indie” feel of it tends to drag it away from the metal realm as instead we are plied with copious amounts of tepid illusions which lack weight. ‘Feeding The Illusion’ is relatively upbeat in its drive, but overall it’s just a grey, watery pop-tinged foot-tapper best suited to a clammy tent at a rain-soaked festival.

With ‘A Burden To Carry’ finishing off matters with a grating guitar shudder, I’m feeling rather disconsolate after this experience simply because Ethereal is so darn dreary that you just know that even a firework up the arse isn’t going to eject this band into happy climes.

Neil Arnold

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