365 Days of Metal: A Doom Ridden Catharsis

I realize I haven't been quite consistent of late. I did not lie when I said this will continue, it may just be in bursts, so don't frown if there's no updates for a few days - or a week.

Day 76 

Vallenfyre - A Fragile King

Band Origin: Halifax, West Yorkshire, England

Genre: Death / Doom

Label: Century Media Records

Running Time: 42 minutes

Release Date: October 31, 2011

Best Part: Despite the tragic inspiration for this record, for this band, the outcome is for lack of a better term, cathartic.

Favorite Tracks: Desecration, My Black Siberia, Cathedrals of Dread, The Divine Have Fled, and Seeds

Grade: 4.5

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A Fragile King in way more than 20 words or less:

The first full-length release of Gregor Mackintosh's side project, conceived as a form of catharsis for the loss of his father delivers a dark, classic death and doom metal experience where heaviness abounds.

The Band:

Vallenfyre is a five piece death metal band from the UK which was conceived by Gregor Mackintosh, lead guitarist and founding member of Paradise Lost. Inspired by the loss of his father, Mackintosh sought to channel his grief into something constructive, something originally meant to not be heard by anyone else. Going back to his roots in death metal, doom and crust he grew to enjoy the work and wished to invite friends along to make it an even more enjoyable experience - Vallenfyre was born, joined by fellow Paradise Lost drummer Adrian Erlandsson, guitarists Hamish Glencross of My Dying Bride and personal friend Mully, and bassist Scoot of Doom.

Vallenfyre also released an EP entitled Desecration in early 2011.

Jay's Take on A Fragile King: 

It's often the case that it's much easier to get 'into' a record if you're in the same state of mind as the artist(s) who created it. Or at the least have an understanding of the reasoning behind their choices of style, lyricism, instrumentation, etc. Vallenfyre is a necessary creation that spawned from the feelings of grief and self-destruction of a man that had lost the most important figure in his life - who had given him the tools to his future career and enjoyment of the musical arts. It's fore that reason, that sentiment of loss, that tragedy, that A Fragile King is as poignant as it is. It goes back to Mackintosh's roots and incorporates the very styles he grew to love into one dark, heavy and illuminating experience. A Fragile King is not a record about sunshine, happiness and rainbows - it is very dark, and features some very dingy feeling and sounding guitar work, which is what makes it work. The record was not only created from his love of early extreme music, but it is an homage to the man that inspired him, and to the trials he faced following his passing. A Fragile King is a record that brings you in touch with the core inspirations of the artist, which is what makes it all the more enjoyable - in spite of its innate doom ridden nature.

Sample of the Day:



- J