Artist: Mare Infinitum

Title: Sea of  Infinity

Type: Album

Label: Solitude Productions

From F. Dostoyevsky’s birth-town in the Russian Central District comes Mare Infinitum with a debut album entitled ‘Sea of Infinity’ – a rough translation of the band name, perhaps? Anyways, just like numerous bands that I’ve reviewed recently, this lot haven’t got a demo, EP or anything at all under their belts; diving straight into the full-length experience. A massive mistake for some, a wise move of mastery for others. So what is the case with this Moscow lot?

The press-sheet lists Mourning Beloveth as an influence, definitely tickling my fancy. Bring on the slow melodic sluggishness played by a quintet of drunken Irish crazies! The info leaflet also lists the two musicians here as ‘famous’, A.K. iEezor plays in Comatose Vigil and Abstract Spirit), whilst Homer (after the author, probably) used to be active in Who Dies In Siberian Slush… well make of that what you will. Apparently Sea Of Infinity is the “entrance ticket for a band to the highest level of Russian doom-death metal scene”. Oh boy.

Right… to the music. This band certainly ain’t as ingenious as Mourning Beloveth (I find the comparison pretty inaccurate to be honest) and generally there’s a lack of innovation throughout the piece, the not-so-unpredictable song writing doesn’t help. I also completely fail to hear of any elements of ‘Russian doom-death metal’, it just sounds the same as most doom metal of this category. It is, however, a very solid album of somewhat melodic emotional doom; at times beautiful at times crushing, but never overwhelmingly… well, anything. The mix of clean and growled vocals works pretty well, however, but gets a bit repetitive towards the end.

There’s not much more to say, maybe the isolation of the Russian scene is the reason that this record doesn’t sound particularly fresh (I don’t mean the production but the tunes)? Maybe those demo-days might have helped making this a more interesting and inventive record… the musicianship’s there, but the ideas seemingly aren’t. Sorry, nice effort, though.

http://mareinfinitum.bandcamp.com

(6/10 Miika Virtanen)