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PAST UNDONE
Time Lapse EP

Self-released (2013)
Rating: 7/10

Despite the rather bland band moniker Portugal’s Past Undone are a rather intriguing quartet made all the more striking by the fact that each member contributes to vocal duties.

I was, naturally, drawn to the female vocals of the opus which are extremely haunting and gothic and literally sweep over this three-track EP with such beautiful melody. Although to be honest, I could have done without the deathlier growls which seem commonplace when it comes to these types of records. I would suggest that Past Undone simply stick with the vocals of Sara Henriques (who also plays keyboards) and Liliana Boaventura (bass) because such is the effect of their vocals that they enable the band to take on a variety of mystical forms.

Sara and Liliana are joined by guitarist André Reis and drummer Vitor Dantas, and the sound they create is an often mysterious blend of the enlightening and the dark. The opening track is the often jarring ‘Condemned By Scars’, featuring a killer, discordant guitar sound and gruff vocal delivery which is contradicted by the dulcet tones of Sara Henriques. Past Undone combine classic, majestic metal with something more strained and gloomier.

The second track to drift from the speakers is ‘Place in Heaven’, which wheezes into the room on a gothic church organ and epic orchestration and it’s on this track where the band really come into their own. Again, the female vocals are far more effective than the doomier growls, and the drums really kick hard as the track leaks into a heavier segment halfway through.

The final track, ‘Time Lapse’, is more sweeping in its approach with those gorgeous keyboards and the prodding injection of drums. The track echoes the early days of UK doomsters Anathema and Paradise Lost, although in general Past Undone lacks the weight of those English bands.

As an introduction to their talents, Time Lapse is a superb little EP and I can only imagine what this band will be capable of on a full-length album. I do hope that they find a niche and don’t get caught up with the doom brigade, but I’m guessing that by eliminating the gruff vocals Past Undone may also alienate metalheads seeking something far earthier.

Even so, and I’ll keep on saying it, what makes Past Undone stand out from the crowd are the majestic female vocals, so when the debut album finally emerges I expect to hear more of those haunting tones alongside that intriguing brand of jazz-tinged doom.

Neil Arnold

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