Rating: 7.8

Country: Ireland

Genre: Melodic Death Metal

Record Label: Self Released

Release Date: 2009

Track list:
1. Enlightened (Instrumental)
2. Care Of The Dead
3. Decline
4. In Suffering
5. Solace
6. Recoil
7. Crawl (Instrumental)
8. Deluge
9. Cold Call
10. Elysium

Total playing time 39:33

Band Website: For Ruin

For Ruin - Last Light

Steve O'Connell - Drums
Drew Myers - Guitar
Pete Lawlor - Bass
John Murphy - Vocals

This Irish band plays some sparkling melodic death metal. The overwhelming and almost certain gayness of this genre is kept in check here by excellent musicianship and the presence of influences of genres such as black metal and doom metal. So not only is the music not gay, it is also interesting, vibrant and entertaining. On this sophomore and surprisingly self-released album it is most comparable to Dark Tranquillity circa Projector (minus the fag clean vocals) and before. Where doom influences are concerned, it is mostly Gothic era Paradise Lost, most noticeably on “Decline” and the beautiful closer “Elysium”. Even shades of Icon are present in a few instances, and in “Care of the Dead” for instance, a distinct My Dying Bride tune is heard. As for the black metal influences, they can be attributed to Dissection and their numerous followers and is palpable mostly in “In Suffering” and the superb track “Solace” in which exquisite melodies run alongside heavy lurching parts to create a wonderful effect.

With a host of influences at their disposal, For Ruin are armed to the teeth. They deploy one sizzling riff after another at a brisk pace, each of them burning with emotion and penetrating deep enough to scar you for life. But since they are so melodic and sweet, instead of dumping you for that your girlfriend will appreciate you for your sensitivity and overnight emotional maturity. And just when you think you have got enough of melodies and hooks in your life, the band launches leads and takes it to another level altogether, reaching which one tends to turn incontinent. There are tons of tempo shifts to retain your attention and their diverse multi-dimensional music keeps you from taking them for granted; a one-trick pony this band sure ain't. The album's quality, however, dips a notch halfway into the album, with songs like “Crawl” (this one has surprisingly speed and intensity though if not much else) and “Deluge” (mainstream-sounding homochugs are to be blamed) being rather unspectacular comparatively, but it is salvaged almost single-handedly by the assuring and uplifting Gothic-ish opening lead in “Cold Call”, the song also featuring fucking cute melodic bits later on.

Being a melodic death metal band, For Ruin know the subtle yet vital difference between kicking your balls and sucking your cock. They are at their best when they mix doom influences in their music, especially of the calibre of old Paradise Lost, as it imparts a peculiar wistful and romantic mood and depth to it. They have excellent dynamics and melodic sense and if they don't veer too much towards the commercial realm, they are going to do well for themselves. Heck, even in doing so if they amass some commercial acclaim, I would say they deserve every bit of it. Keep going lads and soon you will put the pansy Swedes out of business.

December 26, 2009