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An Autumn For Crippled Children - Lost review




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Reviewer:
8.0

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Band: An Autumn For Crippled Children
Album: Lost
Release date: January 2010


01. To Set Sails To The Ends Of The Earth
02. Tragedy Bleeds All Over The Lost
03. A Dire Faith
04. In Moonlight Blood Is Black
05. Ghost Light
06. An Autumn For Crippled Children
07. I Beg Thee Not To Spare Me
08. Gaping Void Of Silence
09. Never Shall Be Again

Atmospheric black / experimental doom metal
Netherlands
Aeternitas Tenebrarum Music Foundation

Line-up on the CD:
MXM - vocals, guitar, keyboard
TXT - bass
CXC - drums

Blut Aus Nord, meet Burzum. Burzum, meet Alcest.

"Let the breeding commence!"

That's Lost, An Autumn For Crippled Children's debut album, in a nutshell. But there is something different with this release that prevents it from being overlooked as a clone - not to say we have a trendsetter on our hands here, but these merchants have crafted their own sound with remnants of various melancholic metal genres, primarily atmospheric/depressive black and doom metal, with the slightest tinge of shoegaze just in case you thought they weren't gloomy enough.

So who are these guys anyway? Apparently an experienced Dutch palandromic menage a trois, as haunting to write about as the atmosphere they create with a "fuzzy" guitar pinch and "dreamy" keyboard notes. The semi-squalid production and muffled screams are a rather blunt contrast to the delicate ambiance found within each song, most notably "To Set Sails To The Ends Of The Earth" and the eponymous track, "An Autumn For Crippled Children". However, most of this juxtaposition illustrates just how knowledgeable of soundscapes these artsy-craftsy cats really are, with or without a heap of resources.

AAFCC experiment within the confines of the doom and atmospheric black metal genres enough to add their distinguishing touch on what is already a virtually peculiar physique, morphing rugged edges and a somber environment into a magnificently melancholic modus operandi, without delving into any overambitious territories. They keep their structure (more or less) strictly emotional - an album for the crestfallen, surely - but unfortunately take on too much of an unfitting "underwater" sound at times, which dampens the direction. Between MXM's chilling shrieks (which are barely audible), TXT's bass guitar (which is slightly overpowering) and CXC's drumming (which is consistently monotonous) there doesn't seem to be enough substance. So are they drowning in misery or in a flooded studio?

Neither. Or both. It depends on how you look at it. Three groups of people will form after listening to this album. The first group will consist of a distraught audience whose emotional strings have been contorted and ultimately severed, praising the Children as masters of melancholy. The second group will consist of elitist onlookers and curious passersby who leave wanting nothing more than a fistful of acetaminophen.

I will be firmly seated among group three - those who accept Lost as an emotionally charged release with some production flaws that, if welcomed as a matter of art, will make AAFCC a band worth praising.


Website: http://www.myspace.com/crippledchildren2009


Rating breakdown
Performance: 7
Songwriting: 8
Originality: 8
Production: 7





Written on 19.07.2010 by I'm total pro; that's what I'm here for.


Comments

Comments: 3   Visited by: 92 users
19.07.2010 - 15:29
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted
Have had this sitting around for a few months now, I can only assume the nonsensical band name put me off listening to it but will endeavor to give it a spin or three.
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21.07.2010 - 06:39
Rating: 8
hadriel

Great review, really sums up how I felt about it. Just discovered this band and I'm really digging this album. Looking forward to seeing what these guys can do on future releases.
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07.01.2011 - 02:12
Insineratehymn
Account deleted
An Autumn for Crippled Children: horrible name, wonderful music. I look forward to their future releases.
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