Majestic Downfall / Ansia



2007 - Majestic Downfall / Ansia - Split CD

Reviews:

Vampire Magazine
(march 2008)

Here’s an interesting release: a split CD between two bands that not only sound completely different, but they also originate from two completely different continents. Majestic Downfall hails from Mexico, whereas Ansia has its feet planted in Italy, making both bands worlds apart. Furthermore, oddly enough, the album is released through the Russian label Solitude Productions… talk about an international cooperation.

First up is the one-man army, Majestic Downfall. Jacobo (music and vocals) brings us 3 tracks of pure doom/death nature in the vain of old Anathema with a touch of Novembers Doom. What you can expect is heavy, melancholic and rather slow tracks that catch the true essence of doom to the point. Although the songs all follow the common recipe – heavy riffs, deep growls, sorrowful keyboard parts and slow paced drumming – and therefore do not present anything new to the world, however, the rather lengthy tracks (8 minutes on average) do not present a single dull moment either. In fact, the tracks are quite heavy and passionate, filled with mournful and bitter emotions. One minor setback would be the high-pitched keyboard melody in “A Birds Departure.” Not only does it slightly hurt the music, it is also quite annoying and hurtful to my ears as well. Yet, on “In an Ocean of Fears” (my favorite of the three tracks) it comes off rather pleasantly, giving the track an extra flavor. In any case, 3 tracks were more than enough to get oneself hooked on this majestic and awfully melancholic music. Brilliant!

Next up is Ansia with three tracks of pure funeral doom, not for the faint of heart. At over 30 minutes, the songs carry you into its painful melancholy, leaving you in a stage of utter despair. Don’t expect straightforward music. It takes time before these requiems of death set in and enwrap you in its breath-taking shadow. The tracks tend to progress slowly, where the chords seldom change – although I must say, the guitar work is very remarkable, especially for its heaviness. The drumming is also quite dreary (inducing a trance-like state), the keyboard melodies are exceptionally beautiful (take for example the intro and outro of “Part I”), the bass-lines enhances the cold and eerie emotions of the music and the painful screams sound as if they were coming from a funeral pyre. Indeed, this highly melancholic music is quite impressive! Ansia is definitely a band to look out for: with only 3 tracks, they have proven to possess the right ingredients.

Solitude Production has done an outstanding job in putting forth an extremely sorrowful doom album. Although both bands sound completely different, I highly praise both for their tragic music! It is heavy yet quite depressive; bitter yet beautiful. In short: a must-have for fans of beautiful, dark and emotional doom metal!

Reviewed by: Randall Ras

Metal Invader
(march 2008)
(4/5)

It was quite a surprise for me to get through this really good split CD. Majestic Downfall an one man’s band delivers mournful yet melodic music in slow and mid tempos. Three songs are include din this split CD (A Bird’s departure, In The Ocean Of Fears, A Tear Of Understanding). Their music reminded me of old My dying Bride -a little- thanks to the growling vocals and characteristic lead guitar themes. In times that become even more aggressive but soon they return to mourn.

Ansia are from Italy and they are sounding even deeper, atmospheric but meanwhile experimental letting their music drive to the listener in a journey enforced by ambient atmospheres, Black Metal touches, aggressive vocals of sadness and ultra slow riffs in ever more slow tempos. Three songs by them are also included in three (Part I, Part II, Part III), three songs building a stone wall of a strange and ultra heavy sound.

The final piece of the puzzle in this split CD is completed by the great artwork. In the booklet you can also find the lyrics of all the song. For sure this split CD is a good chance for both the bands (who have previously released only demo) to be listened by more people. I hope this release would be the first step for both on a path with even more releases.

Reviewed by: Chris Papadakis