Mourn The Light is a Connecticut-based heavy metal band that brings in elements of doom and power/thrash/progressive metal to round out their sound. Formed in 2017, Suffer, Then We’re Gone is their first full-length release. Using clean vocals, they are eschewing the trend to add in growls, but they get nice and gritty. Rapid-fire guitars and a stellar rhythm section round out the sound.

Argonauta Records
https://mournthelight.bandcamp.com/

Band Members:

  • Dwayne Eldredge – Vocals/Guitars
  • Kieran Beaty – Guitars
  • Bill Herrick – Bass
  • Kyle Hebner – Drums
  • Andrew Stachelek – Vocals

July 22, 2021

Tracklist:

  1. When The Fear Subsides
  2. I Bare The Scars
  3. Take Your Pain Away
  4. End Of Times (2020 Version)
  5. Suffer, Then We’re Gone
  6. Refuse To Fall
  7. Progeny Of Pain
  8. Wisdom Bestowed
  9. Blink Of An Eye (Remastered Bonus Track)

“When The Fear Subsides” is a bit of a slow burner. It starts with a nice, dark acoustic intro before going almost total doom with the riff. The vocals are lower register and add to the feelings of dread. Lyrically, this could be about the current political drama we live in but also points to personal struggles. You cannot move forward when standing still, frightened to move. The chugging rhythm interspersed with the sludgy sections gives this song a “progressive doom” theme, which is really impressive.

The next song, “I Bare The Scars,” has a much heavier opening. The track varies from sludgy to power metal with a dual guitar styling like an 80s band coming out of Germany. The drums and bass alternate between slower foundational tempos and faster, supporting roles. They don’t sit back in a pocket and linger under everything; sometimes, they step out and get noticed as an integral part of their composition. And they shift gears beautifully!

Jumping down to the title track, “Suffer, Then We’re Gone,” we get a nine-plus minute track that starts in pure doom mode. The vocals are haunted and dark, echoing the lyrical content. Humanity is doomed. There are a few good-intentioned people, but the masses drag them down and relegate them to an eternal pit of despair. You didn’t expect happiness and puppies from a doom metal band, did you? The slow tempo and dark theme, coupled with a few harsh vocal sections, give this song a dark feel. This one has more progressive doom elements, really weaving the prog into the band’s makeup.

The opening pace of “Refuse To Fall” is best described as power-doom metal. The bass guitar steps up and makes you take notice, giving the sound a third lead guitar feel. I love the shift into the main body of the song. The drum work is also more out front and noticeable than in some other pieces, or maybe I just caught it better here. Either way, it’s always nice to hear those guys get some lead time. The whole composition supports this as the song has a lot of power metal elements to justify all the instruments doing their leads.

“Wisdom Bestowed” is the next song we have to discuss. The early solo set a faster pace than most of the songs on the record. The vocal cadence is faster as well. The shift to acoustic shows more of the progressive chops these guys have. The backing vocals again have some of the harsher tones this record has encountered. Distorted vocals are used sparingly enough to make them stand out better. Some bands, it’s weird when they don’t get guttural, so it’s something expected. Here, we get them as a treat to add to the song’s overall sound.

The record wraps with “Blink Of An Eye,” a heavy-riffed song with a fantastic galloping rhythm. The guitars are like great salsa, thick and chunky. Lyrically, I get the impression this song is about the futility that life often throws at you, feeling like nothing you can do matters. I feel this one on a more personal level. I also hear the most “Sabbath-like” tones and elements in this song. It just sounds and feels familiar and comforting in that aspect, like a throwback to a different time, reminding me of why I loved that era of music.

Mourn The Light are more than just a doom or a metal band. They are 50 years of musical influences wrapped into a nicely done recording of new songs. The doom, the progressive, the power, and the heavy metal elements blend with loving care, creating a fusion of tones and textures that weave a massive tapestry of music. The guitar work is first-rate, the rhythms are solid, and the vocals are top-notch. These seasoned musicians have created a killer disc with well-thought-out and written songs.

MZ Ratings:

  • Musicianship
    • Guitars – 9
    • Rhythms – 9
    • Vocals – 9
  • Songwriting – 9
  • Production – 9
  • Overall – 9


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