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Meisterwerk 1

My Dying Bride - Meisterwerk 1 Audio CD

A fair review of the My Dying Bride "Meisterwerk 1" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all My Dying Bride reviews here, or go back to the My Dying Bride tabs.

Band: My Dying Bride
Title: Meisterwerk 1
Rating:

Release Date: 2001-05-08
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Symphonaire Infernus et Spera Empyrium 2: Crown of Sympathy 3: Grief of Age 4: Kiss to Remember 5: Grace Unhearing [Portishell Mix] 6: For You 7: Unreleased Bitterness 8: Sear Me LLL 9: Cry of Mankind [Bonus Video Track]

It doesn't matter
I think that all of My Dying Bride's fans should all chip in and buy this guy a pony, a pink one. This kind of music can only be inspired by the ponylessness in the world.

From the lab of MDB: a collection of experimental metal...
The eight tracks cover quite a bit of experimental doom metal, from the deathly growls and muffled percussion on 'Symphonaire Infernus' to the more clean-cut gothic sounds of 'Grace Unhearing'. Meisterwerk I provides the listener with a good taste of what My Dying Bride is all about.

Beautiful musicianship prevails on each track, as smooth but rustic guitar and percussion work flows harmoniously with the deep and wintry lead vocals.

My only complaint comes on some of the longer pieces, where the harmony tends to become somewhat repetitive on the latter portion of the tracks. Nevertheless, Meisterwerk I acts a diverse MDB sampler for newcomers as well as a solid, potent release for diehard MDB and doom metal fans alike.

Low on life, pulse, and punch.
Immediately. My Dying Bride needs to fire lead singer Aaron Stainthorpe.

This crack band creates some gorgeous soundscapes, and all the musicians in the band play with an exhilirating abandon. It is Stainthorpe that drags it down from the heights to which it should be soaring. With a voice that's the sonic equivalent of sewer goo, Stainthorpe (usually uttering sex-obsession and death-trip lyrics that get tired awfully quickly) intrudes painfully on My Dying Bride's gorgeous classically tinged Goth-metal sound.

On Meisterwerk 1, unfortunately, the songwriting is also not up to the band's usual standards. The recording is low and muddy, the sound way too bassy (thus lacking in any punch at all, not helped by Stainthorpe's locked-throat growls), and the structures uninvolving. Usually My Dying Bride's tightly wound instrumental builds rescue the songs from Stainthorpe's incompetence, but on this one, the material is handicapped from the start. And the bonus -- a video for "The Cry of Mankind" -- only emphasizes the problem further, a showcase for Stainthorpe to pose seminude in Christ mode, so relentlessly narcissistic you begin to wonder what world this guy's from, while his band is pushed to the background. How they made such a flat video from such a dramatic song (aside from the vocals) is beyond me. But I think my exploration of My Dying Bride ends here, unless this band wakes up and finds a vocalist worthy of its ranks.

Not bad...........
I only knew about them through other reviews and reccomendations, so I was definitely taking a chance on this one. Okay, let me first say that this is the only MDB album that I own thus far. Real MDB fans could write a better review, but for those of you who are unaccustomed to this group, perhaps I can be of a little help. MDB is classified as doom metal, and I would have to agree with that classification. The vocals are clean, not growled, and they reflect a man who sings with a unique pain and anguish in his voice. The lyrics are beautifully written, obviously some very talented songwriters here. The one thing about this album that some may not like is the overall length of the songs. Most songs clock in around 9 or 10 minutes. It is best to read the lyrics as the song plays to fully appreciate this band. Standout songs (at least to me) are tracks 4, 6, 7 and 8. Track 9 is a bonus video track to play in your computer (unfortunately my computer is not cooperative). I gave this album a 4 mainly because of the songwriting and production. It takes awhile to get used to these guys, and it may put you to sleep at first, but give MDB a chance. They are truly talented.

IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE ARTISTRY OF MY DYING BRIDE.
If you are new to the sound of My Dying Bride BUY THIS ALBUM. Buy this album. DO NOT BUY ANY OTHER MY DYING BRIDE ALBUM UNTIL YOU HAVE LISTENED TO THIS ONE--JUST DON'T!

WHY? The answer is simple. My Dying Bride are as avante-guarde as gothic doom gets. They are notorious for experimentation, which results in outrageous style changes. No two MDB albums sound alike--often completely dissimilar, but, at the same time, once you have acquired a taste for the band's experimental nature, you will always recognize a MDB tune. The songs may change, but the soul is the same.

This CD is a "best of" compilation, and spans the range of MDB's stylistic experimentation. It will give you (the listener) perspective--you will know which albums to buy and which to avoid. MDB began with death vocals and later developed a style combining clear vocals with the death growls. This was a unique combination ("Turn Loose the Swans" has been called the "ultimate gothic doom album," and developed a cult following). Eventually the death vocals were discarded ("Like Gods of the Sun" was a CMJ All Music Guide top pick--and probably the best MDB album containing clean vocals--one of my favorites). "The Light at the End of the World" continues the tradition the band started with "Turn Loose the Swans"--combining death AND clean vocals.

This CD contains a video (The Cry of Mankind), which was the main reason I purchased the CD--a great bonus. This is also one of the most user-friendly ECD's I have come across--you don't have to install any files to get it to run on Win95/98--plug it in and watch the movie!

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR GOTH ROCKERS! MY DYING BRIDE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING LIKE SISTERS OF MERCY, BAUHAUS, ALIEN SEX FIEND, CHRISTIAN DEATH, ETC. My Dying Bride is gothic doom--the godfathers of gothic doom metal are Black Sabbath. The Black Sabbath influence is definitely there, but MDB are also extremely experimental (esp. with vocal styles). Do not buy this if you are looking for a cool goth rock band that sounds like the other goth rock bands you already listen to, and, if you do buy this CD and do not like it, don't act likea brat d say that the band. . . .

Gothic, as I have stated before, is not a style of music. It is a theme around which many styles of music, cinema (film noir tradition in particular), architecture, and literature are built.

Good luck with your listening experience! Amazon. com's sound samples are a great help!.

You can see a complete list of all My Dying Bride discography, or go back to the My Dying Bride tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.