Album Review: Stillborn - Netherworlds
Reviewed by Tim Finch
Being greeted by a catchy, heavy riff and then vocals that resemble those of the late, great Pete Steele, is an almost perfect way to kick start an album. It is this greeting which the listener receives within moments of pressing play on Stillborn’s new album ‘Netherworlds’, release on June 28th via Black Lodge Records.
The Swedish band, made a significant mark on the metal scene in 1989 with their debut album ‘Necrospirituals’, now considered a cult classic and possibly the first gothic metal album ever released and at the time, the term "gothic metal" had yet to be coined. The debut album's sound was raw and as heavy as lead, drawing inspiration from diverse sources like Ennio Morricone, Lee Hazlewood, Fritz Lang, and Black Sabbath, creating a unique and eerie blend with a twisted smile.
The opening ditty on the latest album, ‘Neophyte’ opens with that aforementioned catchy riff, which has a hint of power metal in its delivery but soon veers away from that when the vocals of Kari Hokkanen kick in.
As the album progresses things take a darker turn. The catchy riffs replaced with a demonic guitar drawl on ‘Children of Darkness’, any hint of pace removed and the doom influences take hold. The slow chuggy-ness of the music continuing through ‘Dead Black Woods’ slowing even further with the music driven by the foundation of Hokkanen’s drawl.
In so many places there are passages that remind the listener of the ever-legendary Type O Negative, although to be clear this is no copycat outfit, the two groups formed at a similar time, Stillborn a matter of months prior to Type-O in fact. They were two bands occupying the same space with the same style, at the same time, one having shot to greater prominence in what seems to have been more luck than judgement. The two are equals on musical merit.
Throughout the album, the band meld the gothic stylings with the doom drone to near perfection. If, like myself, you were a fan of Type O Negative and Stillborn had passed you by, ‘Netherworlds’ would be a great place to introduce yourself to a band you are going to love!
