FROM THE CRYPTS - CELEBRATING PAST ALBUM RELEASES in the HISTORY of HARD ROCK & HEAVY METAL…
On October 29, 1991, Death/Doom/Thrash Metal band Sorrow released their EP Forgotten Sunrise via Roadracer (now Roadrunner Records) sub-label R/C Records.
Background:
In revisiting of one of Death-Doom's creators, way back in the early 90s there was a Death/ Doom Metal band called Sorrow out of the U.S.A. Similar to fellow pioneers like Thergothon and Paradise Lost, many at the time associated Death/Doom with slowed down Death Metal. No one knew how much of an impact this band would be on the genre that has led to the creation of groups like Evoken and Novembers Doom. Sorrow has been defunct for many years now and their music is difficult to find with such a small legacy.
The music is mostly in Death Metal. However, the crushing feeling that is associated with Funeral Doom Metal worked to the band's advantage at creating a dark and twisted atmosphere. Tracks like Curse the Sunrise featured down tempo beats and a gritty feeling like nails clawing the inside of a coffin trying to be let free. While this isn't really the pinnacle of what made Sorrow good, it is interesting to hear how they sounded before their singular monumental debut album.
For those looking for how Death Doom Metal began, Sorrow is where one should start. The evolution from Death Metal to slower Doom Metal can clearly be seen in each track as the band tries to find a balance between overwhelming power and crushing atmosphere. While today's Doom Metal is much more bleak and diverse, Sorrow provided the key elements to making this genre so bleak and diverse. Some can argue that this is Death Metal, and yes, ultimately it is. However, the slower tempo undeniably makes this Doom. Perhaps Sorrow would have stuck together if they only knew what that their album would spawn a genre changing ripple throughout all of Metal.
Lineup:
• Andy Marchione - Vocals, Guitars, Bass
• Mike Hymson - Drums
• Brett Clarin - Guitars
Production & Layout:
• Conrad Ziamiak - Recording
• Steve Koslowski - Mixing
• Michael Sarsfield - Mastering
• Tom Greenwood - Art direction
• Ira Rosenson - Photography
• Brett Clarin - Logo
• Recorded & mixed at Sunset Studio, East Meadow, New York.
• Mastered in Frankford/Wayne, New York.
• Produced and co-mixed by Sorrow.
• Also released in the US in special edition longbox packaging.
Note:
• Andy Marchione was involved in an unfortunate accident which prevented him from entering the studio to record additional tracks for this release, which was originally meant to be a full-length album.
• The EP was dedicated to the memory of Lisa Thompsen, who was not as fortunate as Andy Marchione.
Critical Reception:
In a review for AllMusic, Eduardo Rivadavia stated; “Sorrow's debut effort for Roadrunner was scheduled to be a full album, but its sessions were abruptly put on hold when vocalist and bassist Andy Marchione lapsed into a coma following a serious case of carbon monoxide poisoning. While he recovered, both band and label decided to release 1991's Forgotten Sunrise”EP, containing four songs recorded a year earlier, of which two had already been issued as a single by Relapse Records while the group was still called Apparition. Whatever name they were going by, the Death Metal style heard on Forgotten Sunrise was neither as frenzied nor as satanically inspired as that of Sorrow's fellow New York area bands, like Suffocation and Immolation. Instead, the group's lyrics dealt in more realistic subjects (religious hypocrisy on Awaiting the Savior, environmental concerns on A Wasted Cry for Hope) and their music mixed speed with doom-slow tempos in a fashion reminiscent of Obituary and Dream Death. All told, this made for an unusual blend which would gain further exposure on the band's subsequent full-length, Hatred & Disgust.”
Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells
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