For Week Ending:
27 April 2024

My Dying Bride - A Mortal Binding (2024)

[Doom Metal]

As a progenitor of the death / doom metal style My Dying Bride has always worked within the guardrails they set themselves over 3 decades ago. The great thing is that they do have some space to work within - moving between death riffs and growls, and the slower plodding darkness tinged Sabbath style epics with gothic flourishes. A Mortal Binding as a whole doesn't really fit in either camp, instead alternating freely between the two, and even blending the styles on some tracks. For this reason newcomers to the band may find the album a jarring experience. It opens with 'Her Dominion', using a bold death metal style, complete with heavy riffs and growled vocals, making it quite inaccessible. Following right after is the moody 'Thornwyck Hymn' that fits right into the gothic dirge category. This continues throughout the hour long journey, which adds to the interest, as it twists and turns in ways the band haven't explored for the last few albums. The violin takes a step backward, and isn't an pronounced as some of their works. Midway is the standout 'The Apocalyptist' which combines growls with doom to great effect, and leaves an unsettled feel across the track. As always, the guitar work of Andrew Craighan is exquisite, but the versatility of vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe again steals the show. In a time when many of the original doom metal bands are heading lighter and lighter as they grow in age, it is great to see My Dying Bride staying true to their original vision of so long ago.

Arist Information
My Dying Bride are an English doom metal band formed in Bradford. Along with Anathema and Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride were a forerunner of the death doom metal and gothic metal genres during the early 1990s. These bands comprise 'The Peaceville Three' as all were signed to Peaceville Records at the time.

Release Information
'A Mortal Binding' is the fifteenth studio album by My Dying Bride.

Ammonia - Mint 400 (1995)

[Alternative Rock]

1994/95 arguably being the height of Australia Alternative music, there was a market saturation of so many bands, it was a challenge to keep up with all of them. One band that I believe went under the radar a little and didn't get the plaudits it deserved was Ammonia and their Mint 400 release. Forming not much earlier than this release, it has to be said that for a first release, from a new band, this a well put together solid alt-rock effort. Not to be forgotten they had legendary Kevin Shirley (Iron Maiden, Slayer) produce their record. There is a story I would love to know. You don't just get him for an unknown band. Their JJJ legacy is the lead single 'Drugs', which in all honesty is the most simplest of songs lyrically and musically. It's repetitious but for some reason very catchy and I loved it. I listened to this release for the first time in over 10 years the other day as I am now, and can recall lyrics to most songs. It's just a simple but effective catchy release. Other songs to call out are 'In A Box' & 'Suzi Q'. I'll never know why they didn't get the accolades they deserved. TheBigBlack and I have a number of times discussed bands that have nailed their first full-length, with Pearl Jam and Ten clearly at the top. I'd have Ammonia in my list somewhere for sure. I did wonder with what I thought was a brilliant first release would go onto her much more from them. But alas they tried something different on the second album and self-imploded by 1998.

Arist Information
Ammonia was an alternative rock band from Perth, Western Australia which made a name for itself in the 1990s, producing a mixture of grunge and guitar pop (a sound they described as "pop-metal"). The group began in 1992, initially considering the name "Glorious Noise Earthquake", but selected Ammonia for its simplicity after stumbling across the word in a science textbook.

Release Information
'Mint 400' is the debut album by Ammonia. The album takes its title from an auto race described in Hunter S. Thompson's book 'Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas'. The album was produced by legendary American producer Kevin Shirley (Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Slayer). Recorded in ten days at Festival Studios in Sydney, the recording captured the band's live sound, avoiding excessive overdubs and studio manipulation. Mint 400 was an immediate hit in Australia, debuting in the National Album charts at Number 15. The album went out of print in March 2002.