After a series of EPs, two full-lengths, and a European tour,
My Dying Bride
had established themselves prior to this release, but
Turn Loose the Swans
, probably more than any other effort, confirmed the band's leadership position within the
British death metal
/
doom metal
movement. The gothic strains and pure depression of the band are in peak form on this recording. From the gentler strains of
"Your River"
to the deathly title track,
takes sorrow to new extremes on this
Futurist
release. Averaging a cool eight minutes apiece, each of this record's seven songs is dripping with treachery and pain, as the band's lyrical fascination with deceit and transgressions of every variety are apparent in every line. Some gentle string arrangements wind around the super-slow
and sometimes-spoken, sometimes-screamed vocals, giving the record a dynamic twist that helped define the British death/doom sound. A strong early effort from
,
should please fans of this band and their obscure genre. ~ Vincent Jeffries