Gothic doom metal is usually the reserve of Scandinavia bands however now their is a new force in the gothic death doom scene that comes from UK and Spain. Inspired by the likes of Swallow The Sun, Sentenced, Amorphis and My Dying Bride, Opia make a strong statement on their debut album I Welcome Thee Eternal Sleep.
Now like Ofnus who I reviewed earlier this year Opia are a band who feature musicians I consider friends, a band born from the ongoing hiatus of Welsh black metal crew Agrona, vocalist Tereza Rohelova, guitarist/main songwriter Phoenix Griffiths and drummer Sam Heffernan were all a part of that band in the past but do something new here. Moving out of the black metal sphere into something with more melody but just as much misery.
The remaining members of Opia on this album are Ofnus' Rich Rees on bass, now replaced by Aidan Rutter of Moon Reaper, Jorge Afonso of Canary Island gothic doom band Scandelion on keys/syntha and the other keystone of Opia's beautiful misery, guitarist Daniel Tregenna.
This sextet set about creating haunting, beautifully heavy music that is inspired by personal experience of tragedy, mortality, despair, depression and grief, channelled through a nod to the arcane. Produced brilliantly by Abraham Fihema who captures every nuanced moment and every ferocious blast.
Now like Ofnus who I reviewed earlier this year Opia are a band who feature musicians I consider friends, a band born from the ongoing hiatus of Welsh black metal crew Agrona, vocalist Tereza Rohelova, guitarist/main songwriter Phoenix Griffiths and drummer Sam Heffernan were all a part of that band in the past but do something new here. Moving out of the black metal sphere into something with more melody but just as much misery.
The remaining members of Opia on this album are Ofnus' Rich Rees on bass, now replaced by Aidan Rutter of Moon Reaper, Jorge Afonso of Canary Island gothic doom band Scandelion on keys/syntha and the other keystone of Opia's beautiful misery, guitarist Daniel Tregenna.
This sextet set about creating haunting, beautifully heavy music that is inspired by personal experience of tragedy, mortality, despair, depression and grief, channelled through a nod to the arcane. Produced brilliantly by Abraham Fihema who captures every nuanced moment and every ferocious blast.
Introspection is met with crushing riffs at every turn as tracks such as Days Gone By where the chugging pace of Sentenced or Amorphis becomes clear, dual wielding guitars with grand piano chords breaking between the Mellotron swathes. It's one of the tracks that has pace to it, but keeps melancholy to it, segueing into the emotional torrent of Silence.
These two tracks sit next to each other and are exemplary in showing the union between the band Sam's drumming galloping and blasting on Days Gone By before becoming measured on Silence. The keys of Jorge bring atmosphere and a tinge of sadness as the chug from rhythm guitar and bass is counterpointed by soaring lead guitars the trio of Dan, Rich and Phoenix fully I'm charge of the riffs on this record.
If you've only heard Tereza's harsh screams then you'll be mesmerised by the full range she displays on this record, her evocative and spectral cleans, dreamily hang over the quieter maudlin moments before a black metal scream rears it's head and shifts into a death growl on a track such as On Death's Door Parts I and II which bookend the album with downcast heaviness.
It's a collection of songs that speak about the darker, side of being alive, The Fade, especially is inspired by the personal experience of one member's journey through caring for a loved one with vascular dementia.
Anyone who has been touched by this devastating illness will feel the emotions pouring out of this track, especially as it is one of the few tracks with just clean vocals, it's probably the strongest track on this album too as I hear a lot of Type Of Negative here.
The Fade may be a hard listen for many who have had similar experiences but Opia manage to deliver it in a way that is reflective but powerful stirring emotion and reflection. The overarching theme of this record being that death is indeed inevitable and in some respects it can come as a final relief from pain and despair.
Man Proposes, God Disposes, for instance is a haunting slab of glacial doom, building from clean beginnings into the extreme middle section the guitars climbing to near euphoria before it's all stripped back again to rebuild from echoed drums and the ethereal keys. While The Eye skillfully mixes church organs with black metal screams, the occult having an impact here, shifting into blast beats towards the end while remaining cinematic in the choruses.
I Welcome Thee, Eternal Sleep is an album driven by veteran musicians who want to create metal that is as affecting as it is anthemic, as heartfelt as it is heavy. Opia's debut is a perfect European gothic death/doom album, you will kick yourself if you don't check it out. 10/10
These two tracks sit next to each other and are exemplary in showing the union between the band Sam's drumming galloping and blasting on Days Gone By before becoming measured on Silence. The keys of Jorge bring atmosphere and a tinge of sadness as the chug from rhythm guitar and bass is counterpointed by soaring lead guitars the trio of Dan, Rich and Phoenix fully I'm charge of the riffs on this record.
If you've only heard Tereza's harsh screams then you'll be mesmerised by the full range she displays on this record, her evocative and spectral cleans, dreamily hang over the quieter maudlin moments before a black metal scream rears it's head and shifts into a death growl on a track such as On Death's Door Parts I and II which bookend the album with downcast heaviness.
It's a collection of songs that speak about the darker, side of being alive, The Fade, especially is inspired by the personal experience of one member's journey through caring for a loved one with vascular dementia.
Anyone who has been touched by this devastating illness will feel the emotions pouring out of this track, especially as it is one of the few tracks with just clean vocals, it's probably the strongest track on this album too as I hear a lot of Type Of Negative here.
The Fade may be a hard listen for many who have had similar experiences but Opia manage to deliver it in a way that is reflective but powerful stirring emotion and reflection. The overarching theme of this record being that death is indeed inevitable and in some respects it can come as a final relief from pain and despair.
Man Proposes, God Disposes, for instance is a haunting slab of glacial doom, building from clean beginnings into the extreme middle section the guitars climbing to near euphoria before it's all stripped back again to rebuild from echoed drums and the ethereal keys. While The Eye skillfully mixes church organs with black metal screams, the occult having an impact here, shifting into blast beats towards the end while remaining cinematic in the choruses.
I Welcome Thee, Eternal Sleep is an album driven by veteran musicians who want to create metal that is as affecting as it is anthemic, as heartfelt as it is heavy. Opia's debut is a perfect European gothic death/doom album, you will kick yourself if you don't check it out. 10/10
Artwork by: Natalia Drepina
Photo by: Konstantina Frasia Photography Cardiff
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