EP REVIEW: Notes Of Perdition – Dawn Of Solace

According to Christian theology, perdition is the state of eternal punishment a sinful and unrepentant soul enters after death. Giving us a hint of a new facet of punishment, DAWN OF SOLACE slip us Notes Of Perdition. The four-track EP from Tuomas Saukkonen (WOLFHEART/BEFORE THE DAWN) features unplugged renditions of cuts taken from the project’s Flames Of Perdition full-length released earlier this year. Mikko Heikkilä (KAUNIS KUOLEMATON) takes the vocal helm once again for 17 minutes of emotional turmoil. The main question we have is whether DAWN OF SOLACE’s indulgent soundscapes can translate into the unplugged world.

White Noise’s buzz of acoustic guitar strings adds a wonderful element of doom to this already morose track. Heikkilä’s vocals slice through the soundscape with intoxicating rawness. While this unpolished nature may put some off, the point of perfect imperfection may sail over their heads. Though as White Noise continues, it becomes difficult to “decipher the code of silence” as Heikkilä’s vocals submerge within the domineering guitar.

The danger with acoustic albums or EPs is falling foul of the emptiness it can bring. Yet with Event Horizon, DAWN OF SOLACE still manage to create a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere. Does it hit the same as its electronic counterpart? Not entirely, but the majesty of “a thousand suns burning inside me” is still something to behold. Avoiding a further trap of sounding one-note, Skyline’s introductory change in vocal tone is refreshing and keeps our interest piqued. In saying that, Heikkilä’s delivery sits at one speed across the EP. Many can argue this makes for a more settled listen but a minority may say it leads to monotony. Though there is nothing repetitious when it comes to the instrumental. Saukkonen’s guitar races toward the end, escalating the misery we have found ourselves in, leaving us with nothing but the “solitude that never departs”.

World fully constructed, DAWN OF SOLACE’s final note comes with Flames Of Perdition. The tandem vocal and guitar seek to set a spark. Regrettably our flame isn’t lit in the same way. The original set our soul ablaze with the feeling of eternal damnation, but this note’s verses feel empty. A small addition of a stringed instrument or a lilt of something aurally subtle would have worked wonders here. In no way is this a bad track. It simply doesn’t meet the standards of its three predecessors.

With Notes Of Perdition at a close, we revisit the question of whether gothic metal transcends itself into a closer setting. The 17-minute runtime leaves us feeling a slight despondency, and not purely because of the subject matter. Had it not been for the closing Flames Of Perdition’s sparseness, this would have been a wonderful EP rather than simply pleasurable to listen to. Notes Of Perdition passes like a ship in the night, venturing toward background noise territory for those seeking to settle their mind for another task. It’s a shame almost as the full-length is a stunning listen.

Rating: 7/10

Notes Of Perdition is out now via Noble Demon Records.

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