Reviewed by Ian Webber

With only 30 seconds of a clean synth backdrop, it does not take long before crushing guitars and lumbering rhythms announce the arrival of this Swiss outfit's seventh full length release. 'Lament' is full of ultra-brooding melodies and booming bass which typifies Scandinavian doom metal. The opener, "Cosmik Lizard", in many ways is one of the more upbeat tracks that feature an impressive wailing guitar solo. With a progressive feel to the experimental sounds, the tracks grind and rumble relentlessly, only broken by glimpses of lighter accents. "Desolation Is Divine" builds slowly to a blistering fireworks solo and "The Day After The War" features an appearance by Ian Arkley on lead guitar. These bright spots are, however, few and far between, and in many ways the tracks run into one another in a seemingly unending, hulking flow. I did appreciate the underlying blues feel of "Lazarus" and Matt Brand's vocals provide some interest in a blend that mixes a Swiss accent with Ozzy Osbourne stylings. Production is crisp and is a step up from the group's previous recordings but I was left feeling that the cuts needed more drive to maintain the listener's interest. By the time the closing title track is reached, the variety provided by the instrumental had little impact. I am sure, however, that fans of European metal will appreciate the way in which Pylon continue to mix the darker sounds of doom with the hope of Christian faith.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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