Line-up: Aaron Stainthorpe - vocal, Andrew Craighan - guitar, Hamish Glencross - guitar, Lena Abé - bass, Dan Mullins - drums, Shaun Macgowan - keyboards, violin
In gloomy mood, when I’m not able to produce any optimistic thoughts, then for me there’s mostly only one winner – British band My Dying Bride. In situation like this, everyone listens to different music, but I can’t leave doom out. MDB had a long great career. Everybody, who heard their music sometime, recognizes special features of this band and maybe that’s the reason, why this album was a shock for me.
Two disc album is no classic music as we know from MDB. This time it’s symphonic creation, which hides in itself the known melodies from previously released albums. I couldn’t believe my ears, when I first listened to „Evinta”. I personally enjoyed looking for old songs which are the cornerstones of this album. It’s not for everybody of course – someone will listen to this CD and then will put it in the drawer, because it will be boring for him, and maybe someone will use it as a background music for his daily activities. I personally enjoyed it while learning. Don’t expect any heavy guitars here, on the contrary – strings (viola, cello), piano and newly opera soprano with classic vibrato by Lucy Roche. Aaron’s vocal lowered here into touching recitation. The whole album creates a calm atmosphere, in which you relax completely or start thinking about things on the contrary. All songs are finely timed and every musical instrument gets its chance, so it’s not about monotonous several minute long songs.
The first song is „In Your Dark Pavilion”, where you listen to gloomy or on the contrary cheering viola and opera vocal, later replaced by Aarons weeping. Almost the whole song has soft keyboard sounds as background , later in middle replaced by brass part and dramatic vocal of Lucy. The whole song is concluded by mighty climax of musical instruments, Aaron’s weeping and Lucy’s mighty vibrato. In second song called „You Are Not The One Who Loves Me” you’ll be impressed with simple piano chords colored by keyboards full of atmosphere. Then viola gets in and after a while the song calms again and your soul gets caressed by Aaron’s soothing vocal. This song must perhaps talk to everybody looking for deep feeling and perhaps I can give a clue that the viola melody is based on original „Bring Me Victory” song.
Fourth and my favorite song „The Distance, Busy With Shadows” is for me absolutely alternative miracle of this CD. Countless times this song stroke my ears and soul. We’ll find here only the alternating sounds of keyboards, piano, sometimes flute and narration. No opera vocals. There’s nothing in this song that I’d find hindering or missing. And a hint again – you’ll find melodies from „For You” here. The description would be quite similar for other songs from first and second CD, which contain in sum 9 full-length songs.
I don’t know what your opinion will be after you listened to both these CD’s, but I have to say that I’ve got my head completely clean after all-day listening (someone could find it depressive). I guess I can’t rebuke anything for this album... Yes, it’s something different, but if you’re looking for something to bring you to another reality, then „Evinta” is just for you. You just have to feel these songs and make your own opinion. Someone may see it as failure, someone as breathtaking opus worth worshiping. ? Limited version was released containing 3 CD’s and sixty-four pages book containing photos and stories about band’s career and comments to their songs. So now I recommend you to lie on the bed or seat comfortably and enjoy this album as much as you can.
