THE VAULTED SHADOWS

"The Vaulted Shadows" is a compilation album by UK doom/death metal act My Dying Bride. The compilation was released through Peaceville Records in May 2014. "The Vaulted Shadows" features the material from the two EPs "The Barghest O' Whitby (2011)" and "The Manuscript (2013)". All 5 tracks on the 54:25 minutes long compilation are original tracks only featured on the EPs and on "The Vaulted Shadows". So no previously released album tracks, demo/single material, live tracks, or other types of usual EP material.

"The Barghest O' Whitby (2011)" EP only features one single eponymously titled track, but at 27:04 minutes in length it´s the longest track recorded by My Dying Bride up until 2011. It´s a track which features almost all of the band´s trademark elements like über melancholic violin parts, atmospheric keyboards, crushingly heavy guitar riffing (as well as great harmony work), heavy yet rhythmically intriguing drumming, and of course the growling and clean vocals by lead vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe. It´s quite an intriguing track but unfortunately also a bit fragmented and at times a bit too repetitive. The fact that the track is divided into two parts to fit the vinyl format, isn´t exactly good for the flow of the track either. When that is said, it´s a track which wins upon repeated listens, and overall it´s a great quality track by My Dying Bride.

"The Manuscript (2013)" features 4 tracks and except for "Vår gud över er" all tracks were recorded during the sessions for "A Map of All our Failures (2012)", but left off the album release. "Vår gud över er" is a harsher and more death metal oriented epic track, than the other three tracks which are more melancholic, doomy, and beautiful in nature. The violin is used extensively on the title track and on "A Pale Shroud of Longing". Although three of the tracks are outtakes from the "A Map of All our Failures (2012)" sessions, the quality of the material featured on "The Manuscript (2013)" is very high throughout.

Upon conclusion "The Vaulted Shadows" is what I would characterize as a "must have" for fans of the band (if they don´t already own the EPs), and more casual listeners could well start here too. A great representation of the different aspects of the band´s sound. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

I think essential ratings should be used very sparingly. For extreme metal releases however, it doesn't get much better than this. MY DYING BRIDE is one of the greatest metal bands in the world, and not as well known as they should be. The Vaulted Shadows compiles the band's most recent extended plays into a full album-length release.

For word nerds like me btw, the term "barghest" comes from northern England and means a large dog-like monster. "The Barghest O'Whitby" does run pretty long for new MDB listeners, but it's one of their "proggiest" works. Sitting through the whole 54 minutes might be tough, but it's really a minor complaint. The Vaulted Shadows demonstrates what the band does brilliantly. Any one with an interest in innovative extreme metal should really enjoy this.