One would wonder why I am surprised, because isn’t it normal that these artists typically have side projects? Correct but what surprised me is that Gregor Mackintosh is a vocalist. I guess everyone is so used to see him playing a guitar; very strange to see him with a microphone in his hand. VallenFyre is formed by:

Gregor Makintosh (Paradise Lost) – Vocals
Hamish Glencross (My Dying Bride) – Lead and Rhythm guitars
Mully (From the pub down the road) – Rhythm guitars
Scoot (Guess from the same pub) – bass
Adrian Erlandsson (Paradise Lost & At the Gates) – Drums

With influences from Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride and At the Gates, Vallenfyre should produce some of the finest metal music. Obviously their music is heavy and dark. They fit somewhere between the very heaviest Celtic Frost and old school Swedish death metal. I haven’t stopped listening to the album yet and won’t stop for some time. It is one of the best metal records that most probably you’ll hear this year.

Vallenfyre was originally formed by Gregor Mackintosh himself. As he says “Spawned out of the death of my father in the end of 2009, so in early 2010 I kind of start to write things down to cope with the grieving process. That eventually turned into a few songs that I did. It just turned into something to like doing.” Later Gregor asked his friends to join in and a proper band was formed. Most of the lads know each other for a long time. Adrian Erlandsson, Vallenfyre drummer says “Music wise it got the slower elements that the early Paradise Lost had. It’s a lot heaver and this year playing wise they can’t be really compared to Paradise Lost. I guess why that’s why he (Gregor Mackintosh) is doing both Paradise Lost and Vallenfyre.” Below is a video (electronic press kit) of Vallenfyre’s new debut album; A Fragile King.

Finally, had time to sit down and listen to For Lies I Sire, My Dying Bride’s latest album.  In the last 3 albums, MDB seemed to be going to a different direction from their roots.  Nothing wrong with that, but the whole situation sounded too commercial, or it’s like they were pressured to release music asap.  They were still writing good heavy music, but it seems that the lack of violin, helped in lack of writing good “to die with” music.  They lacked the atmosphere, which in my opinion MDB had an atmosphere of their own and that is what made them one of the most influential bands in doom metal.  They were moving towards heavier music, which didn’t had much feel, just heavy music.

But finally, it seems they are on their way back to their roots.  The violin is back, those slow guitar riffs are back accompanied by well structured drums, and Aaron’s weeping voice.  Nobody listens to MDB because of their technical music abilities, but because they were able to create a style of their own, which makes them unique.  No other band was able to create their feel, that kind of cold winter music.

For my likings, I would never rate this album anywhere near the unique ‘Turn Loose the Swans’, but they are back.  Fingers crossed for their next album, which hopefully will take all of us closer to their roots.

From the first ‘quick’ impression, it seems that My Dying Bride are finally playing old school melancholic doom again.  In the first song, finally I could hear the weeping violin, after 13 years of violin lacking.  Didn’t have time to listen to the whole album properly yet, so won’t comment much for now.

Just a note about this album’s artwork; in my opinion artwork is as important as the music itself.  Else, what is the use of buying an original album when you can get the mp3′s for free?  Or how can you listen to a melancholic doom album when the booklet includes funny cartoon images?

The artwork of For Lies I sire, is one of the darkest and “the other better half” to accompany this depressing album.  Gloomy images of death crows on King’s like black wooden chairs, religion related statues, stormy cloudy weather, blood stained flowers and the cross.  The booklet also contains two centre fold photos.  Up to you to discover them

Included in this special edition of For Lies I Sire, is also a booklet with all the guitar tabs and a guitar pick, with the My Dying Bride logo printed on it.  Nice and original thought guys!