Album Review: Thy Listless Heart – Pilgrims On The Path of No Return
Reviewed by Richard Oliver
Pilgrims On The Path Of No Return is the debut album from Thy Listless Heart, the atmospheric doom project of musician Simon Bibby whose previous work includes albums with cult UK thrashers Seventh Angel and gothic doom band My Silent Wake. Thy Listless Heart is a solo project and was recorded at Simon’s home studio in Derbyshire with Greg Chandler of Esoteric being enlisted to mix and master the album.
Atmospheric doom is a broad term to describe the music on Pilgrims On The Path Of No Return as there are elements of classic doom, melodic doom, death doom, funeral doom and gothic metal heard throughout the album. Across the seven songs which make up the album there is a nice degree of variation with As The Light Fades, The Precipice and Confessions all offering doom-laden riffs, pitch black atmosphere and a vast scale. The cinematic side of Thy Listless Heart can be heard in the achingly beautiful When The Spirit Departs The Body and the Celtic folk of Aefnian though my personal highlight is the stunning Yearning which is pure emotion and melancholy. All these different elements culminate in the epic scale and mournful atmosphere of album closer The Search For Meaning.
As a lover of the darker, mournful, atmospheric and emotional side of metal I went into this album with high hopes and they have very much been met. The musicianship on Pilgrims On The Path Of No Return is simply excellent with the vocals and majority of the instruments handled by Simon (the drumming was performed by Ben Griffiths). Simon’s vocals very much match the mood of the music and are wrought with emotion. They are clean for the vast majority of the album though there are the odd scattering of harsh vocals throughout. With the dark, cold and gloomy winter months rolling in, Thy Listless Heart has provided the perfect soundtrack for the season. This album is gorgeously atmospheric, spine tinglingly emotional and also heavy as hell when the moment needs it. A must listen for those who have tastes of a darker persuasion and easily one of the best doom releases of the year.
