Saturnus - Veronika Decides To Die
- Released: 2006
- Label: Firebox Records
- Rating:
Anger, pain, sadness, love and love lost – these are things that every single person experiences in life. They also give birth to the many trials and challenges that every man, woman and child must face, endure and conquer. These things and feelings shape people into what they will be. They have the power to strengthen, but also possess the power to completely destroy – it all depends on how we handle it and how much hope we can grasp.
I was on my way to Timmins to visit an old friend. I put Veronika Decides To Die inside my discman and pressed the play button. Suddenly, everything around me seemed to vanish and I found myself lost in memories of times gone. For one hour, I was brought back in time to the happiest moments of my life – and also my saddest and most painful goodbyes. After the disc was over, I took a deep breath, looked around, and asked myself “What the Hell just happened?”. This disc is the very embodiment of everything that was stated above, as it invokes both feelings of anger and sadness in the listener. There is no escape.
Veronika Decides To Die is the third album from the melodic death-doomsters and is not only one of the best discs I’ve heard so far in ‘06, but also one of the greatest albums I’ve ever heard within this subgenre of metal. It is clear that this album was written with care, inspiration and general feeling which adds to the crushing power felt during listening. This is not just another rmetal album, but true poetry and art for tender souls.
Firstly, I’d like to comment on the guitar melodies. You can literally feel every single note played on this album. Most of them are genuinely breathtaking and they successfully hypnotize the listener, bringing you into their world of darkness. The atmosphere generated is definitely strong and sends chills down my spine. Don’t listen to this album expecting a fun, ol’ sing-a-long time. As in doom tradition, these songs are played mainly from slow to mid-pace but they never get boring. The vocals are somewhere between a growl and a clean voice. At first I found them incredibly weak and not strong enough to convey what they were trying to say, but later on I came to realize the voice is perfect. It’s cold, grim and completely devoid of any happiness, just like a good doom album should sound. There are also some parts where the vocalist just speaks the lyrics in a rather grim fashion. These parts can sometimes be wickedly cheesy (like on track 2), but other than that they certainly work.
Not a single track feels rushed, and although sometimes it can drag on a bit, there’s usually a powerful section coming right up. Veronika Decides To Die is without question the best album in Saturnus’ discography. It’s much more mature and shows definite signs of progression. The music as a whole is stunning and beautiful. I haven’t been this impressed since I heard Agalloch’s The Mantle, and that is saying something. It chills the blood and it represents each and every human’s traits.
Anyone who is a fan of Saturnus’s previous albums or of My Dying Bride should seek this out immediatly. I’m also sick of seeing a bunch of “This album is gay” comments posted nearly everywhere. This album in an intelligent piece of art that should be heard by any sensitive metalhead or by anyone that possesses an appreciative musical mind. I’m not the world’s biggest doom fan but I enjoyed this album immensely. Do yourself a favor and give this a shot. It’s essential!
Brent C. | 07/14/2006