PATERNOSTER

Where do I start ? Context, maybe. As it is, I'm more into heavy-metal than prog rock, specifically an obscure branch of the metal tree called 'doom', started a while ago by a band you've all heard of, Black Sabbath. Doom metal deals with the darker elements of life : pain, loss, and solitude, musically translated into a slow and lyrical dirge. Where does Paternoster fit into this picture ? Let me tell you that I've listened to countless doom bands over the year, and few can compare to this Austrian bunch in terms of sorrow and hopelessness. Paternoster IS pain, Paternoster IS grief. Mainly because Franz Wippel's weeping vocals bring an uncanny depth to the dark musical arrangements on display here. Wippel mourns more than he sings, something I had never heard before (forget about crybaby type doom like My Dying Bride). And the music is as haunting as the vocals : "Stop These Lines", "Blind Children", true classics that anyone with a penchant for dark atmospheres should listen to. Now that I have your attention, let me tell you that I've seen some copies of the Ohrwaschl release available at a decent price on eBay. By all means, buy this album !

Max

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