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NOVEMBER’S DOOM “Major Arcana”
NOVEMBER’S DOOM “Major Arcana”
by Mercyful Mike
It’s been six years since NOVEMBER’S DOOM released “Nephilim Grove”, an album that, to me, tried a little too hard to be everything all at once. When upcoming new release “Major Arcana” landed in my inbox, my interest was piqued to see just where the band was musically. Full disclaimer, the Chicago doom stalwarts have never been able to top “The Pale Haunt Departure”. The bar was set incredibly high with that slab, and for me, no subsequent album has come close. So, let’s see if “Major Arcana” moves the needle.
Opening track “June” sets the dismal tone for the tale of tarot inspiration to be told. Vocalist Paul Kuhr has always had a voice built for storytelling, and he does a wonderful job of doing just that as “June” bleeds into the title track. For reasons I can’t explain, “Major Arcana” has an immense MORGOTH presence, with Paul channeling a bit of Marc Grewe from start to finish.
“Ravenous” could be considered by some as the obligatory “fucking metal!” song on the album. Brutal, savage, and death growls galore. “I am ravenous, and I take what I want!” Destined to become a live set staple, “Ravenous” will undoubtedly get heads banging, but it’s slightly color by numbers.
The melancholic vibes of “Mercy” set us up for “The Dance”, a beautifully crafted song that really amps up the atmosphere, highlighting not only the layered vocals of Kuhr, but the exquisite shredding of Larry Roberts, a truly underrated guitarist not just in Chicago, but in the genre as a whole.
By the time we are greeted with “The Fool”, it has become quite apparent that the production of “Major Arcana” is not agreeing with my ears. As tremendous as Paul Kuhr’s vocals are, they are simply way too hot in the mix for my liking. As a matter of fact, they are so up front that continuing with the back end of the album becomes fatiguing. This baffles me because with Chris Djuricic and Dan Swanö at the helm, I expected better. I don’t say this as a strike against the album. Everyone’s ears (and gear) are different, so this could just be localized to me. I just wish that there was more room for the guitars to breathe.
Speaking of the back end of “Major Arcana”, things begin to feel a little… “samey”. “Bleed Static” comes in at just over eight minutes, and while I’m all for a good doomy slow burn, this opus barely gets kindled. “Chatter” and “Dusking Day” suffer the same fate, tending to blend together. I’m not saying they aren’t good songs, I’m saying they lack the variation needed to stand on their own.
As we reach closer “XXII”, I’m hoping for something magnificent to make up for a slightly lackluster second half. While not quite magnificent, “XXII” does a nice job bringing “Major Arcana” to a conclusion. The melodic flow of the chorus is one of the best on the album, with entrancing keyboard work hammering home the album’s finale.
“Major Arcana” will satiate any NOVEMBER’S DOM fan, or doom fan in general. This is not a bad record by any means. It simply feels as though just when the album was hitting its stride, things stall. Luckily, “XXII” is a fairly strong finish, saving “…Arcana” from falling flat. The needle may not have been moved, but “Major Arcana” is still a worthy effort. Doom on…
7/10
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