Abstract Spirit - Tragedy and Weeds

Rating: 6.4

Country: Russia

Genre: Funeral Doom Metal

Release Date: 2009

Track list:
1. Tragedy and Weeds
2. Funeral Waltz
3. Crucifixion Without Regret
4. Face the Nightmare
5. Wrapped in Solitude
6. Sepulchral Winter

Total playing time 01:08:11

Band Website: Abstract Spirit

Abstract Spirit - Tragedy and Weeds

I. Stellarghost - Keyboards, Backing Vocals
M. Hater - Guitar, Bass
À.K. iEzer - Vocals, Drums

The influence of glacially slow funeral doom bands such as Shape of Despair and Colosseum are evident in Abstract Spirit's sound, but what really defines the band, the element which gives it that extra special edge, is the way in which they can take a synth-based style of composition and almost entirely remake it with the emphasis on guitar work. I am in no way making grandiose claims that Abstract Spirit are the be all and end all of funeral doom innovation, but I was duly impressed with how Tragedy and Weeds was presented. Unfortunately this is all that I can say that's positive about the record – while the balancing between the various atmospheric elements is pitched ever so centrally, the Russian trio's song-writing leaves much to be desired.

Tragedy and Weeds offers six lengthy songs, just over an hour divided almost equally between each track. Believe me, it feels much longer than it is. Despite the fact that there are whole songs which are quite gripping ("Face the Nightmare") or uncharacteristically good ("Sepulchral Winter"), Tragedy and Weeds for the most part chugs and churns with little life and little emotion. As mentioned before, the way that lead and rhythm guitars coincide with the synth work is mostly well done– only a tiny group of bands (Shape of Despair etc.) can get away with synth saturation, and so credit must be given to Abstract Spirit for not taking the risk and finding a good balance between the two styles.

Another point towards the balancing of styles on Tragedy and Weeds is its production – sounding very clear, all of the little elements that make up any of the soundscapes presented on the record are easily distinguishable. One negative is that the drums sound loud and hollow, almost echoed, and this gives them and certain sections where the drums are prevalent an artificial and synthetic sound. If there's anything I hate in funeral doom, it's a lifeless atmosphere, and though Abstract Spirit have merely toyed with this forbidden element, they still cause some annoyance. Vocal work also seems to be a little too loud in the mix – while the vocals are rather good, ranging from thick gutturals to raspy shrieks a la Consummatum Est, they outdraw everything else and disrupt continuity.

As much as I may tout certain elements that the group have succeeded in, mediocrity still has a firm grip around Abstract Spirit, and Tragedy and Weeds is not enough to rid the band of it. As insipid as some tracks can be ("Wrapped in Solitude"), certain choices the band make are simply not good – the horn work in the third track is laughably bad, and the main melody of the second too closely resembles the Harry Potter theme for my liking. Still, it may not be completely balanced out but things like the over-arching piano melodies on the final track somewhat restore my confidence in the band's compositional abilities. But then they choose to finish it off with out of tune horns. Ugh. It's as if they can't make up their minds about being good or bad, so they've settled for both.

While I've praised Abstract Spirit for the initiative they've taken, Tragedy and Weeds still doesn't quite make the cut. It's an enjoyable record, and can be somewhat interesting if one is able get past all the mundane and unexciting passages littered across its hour length. To put it bluntly, this is one of the better doom records I've heard out of Russia, but that's not saying much. Fans of anything from the Russian scene will undoubtedly enjoy the band's sophomore effort, and it's worth a listen to funeral doom fanatics. Other than that, feel free to file this away under the already overflowing folder of funeral doom to forget.

January 23, 2010