Rating: 7.0

Country: Russia

Genre: Doom Metal

Record Label: BadMoonMan Music

Release Date: 2009

Track list:
1. Intro
2. 14
3. The Autumn People
4. Insomnia
5. Moving Crosscurrent of Time
6. The Outcome (Admit One)
7. Outro (English Version)
8. Outro (Russian Version)

Total playing time 51:18

Band Website: The Morningside

The Morningside - Moving Crosscurrent of Time

Boris Sergeev - Drums
Ilya Egorychev - Bass
Sergey Chelyadinov - Guitar
Igor Nikitin - Guitar, vocals

The Morningside's debut album The Wind, the Trees and the Shadows of the Past, along with an intro and outro, had three songs. They were called, "The Wind", "The Trees", and "The Shadows of the Past". Anyone who has listened to Katatonia's Brave Murder Day should be infuriated simply on principle, and I can assure you that even my far younger and naive self experienced some turmoil at such blatant imitation back in 2007.

Two years have passed and The Morningside have returned with Moving Crosscurrent of Time – while the fundamental Katatonia/Agalloch worship of the band's style has not changed, there is still some degree of maturation with their sound. They still sound like Agalloch trying to play Katatonia or October Tide or Empyrium without the symphony, but at least this time around they're somewhat bearable. What my little exposure to Russian (doom) metal has taught me is that the untouched and overflowing scenes of vast, desolate Russia professionally replicate the original sounds of foreign bands; sometimes well enough to gain a little recognition, most of the time rather poorly. The Morningside fit well within this generalisation, but at the very least Moving Crosscurrents of Time offers an enjoyable romp of ‘folk/doom', taking elements from numerous bands and meshing them into a very melodic and accessible piece of Muscovite metal.

It's rather difficult to pin The Morningside to a single genre, so rather than using established genres to define them one merely need refer to the two bands that they completely replicate in order to describe them. Essentially, take the raspy vocals from Agalloch (though slightly less of a whisper) and the band's tendency for flowing and noodling lead guitar lines, combine it with the fluidity and simplicity of Katatonia's Brave Murder Day, and then top it off with a little chug reminiscent of Dance of December Souls and at times Renske's other group October Tide. At the very least, the overbearing gothic elements that seem to pervade every single Russian band who have anything to do with doom metal are almost non-existent in Agallo- umm, I mean The Morningside's music.

What Moving Crosscurrent of Time really comes down to is how much the obvious copying will bother you. While it is highly unoriginal, The Morningside imitate rather well and I cannot really say that I haven't enjoyed listening to this record. There is a genuine improvement in their sound from their debut, and while the basic elements remain unchanged, the way they've further streamlined their style is somewhat notable. If the bands that have been mentioned appeal to you, then this album and band will undoubtedly do so as well. The Morningside fit well into this so called ‘folk/doom' niche that bands like Agalloch have established, and if your pagan giblets moisten at the thought of such metal, then Moving Crosscurrent of Time will probably spin incessantly in your player. As much as I can find enjoyment from these types of bands, innovation goes a long way for me, and The Morningside are devoid of it entirely. Here's hoping any third album by the band keeps originality at the forefront of the writing process.

February 17, 2010