Band:	Red Descending
Album:	Where Dreams Come To Die
Style:	Melodic death metal
Release date:	June 07, 2008
A review by:	Raiden

01. Building My Weakness
02. Century
03. The Grand Memory
04. Slaughter Falls
05. Descend
06. Fragile Nation
07. Deceived Again
08. Departure
09. Valhalla
10. Landscape

Style: Melodic Death Metal
Country: Australia
Label: Self-Released
Length: 47:01
Recorded: 2007/2008

Line-up:
Bernard Shaw - Vocals, bass
Ian Binet - Guitars
James McGregor - Keyboards
Jeremy Taylor - Drums


From the western side of Australia (Perth, WA) comes this Melodic Death Metal band Red Descending. They've been around for a little while now and have released a demo among things in the past but this album "Where Dreams Come To Die" is their first full-length. I've found this album to be fairly unique and the band has put quite an interesting spin on the "melodic" side of their music.

From the start of Where Dreams Come To Die the melodic side takes you aback. It stands out in the way that makes you think "oh wow, that's something interesting and distinctive". The album is almost of type Symphonic Death Metal. The melodic side of it doesn't take as much of a front seat role as the music of Rhapsody Of Fire or latter day Therion for example but it is still often orchestral in nature and makes for an exceptional atmosphere and backing music. The use of keyboards throughout must be praised. The start of the first song "Building My Weakness" almost sounds like a Devin Townsend song with its mid-paced metal but then the atmosphere becomes more distinguishing and is joined with thundering drums and growled vocals. The atmosphere though really feels like it raises the songs and the whole composition feels stronger.

The metal itself though doesn't let down either. Ian Binet's guitar work is always heavy but often presents itself in typical Melodeath fashion. The riffs are sometimes pounding chords and at other times are fast changing notes. I've only briefly mentioned the drumming but it's fairly supportive most of the way through this album. The production doesn't let down on Where Dreams Come To Die so the drumming is the opposite of dull thudding. The bass guitar is thankfully audible as it is played well too. Bernard Shaw does well to harmonise the bass with the rest of the music and at the same time produce some vocals that aren't overly brutal but are varied and sufficiently aggressive. On the track "The Grand Memory" there is a varied vocal performance with some industrialised effected vocal work and the intertwining of Shaw's growling with guest singer Rebecca Brennan. She sounds a little bit like Liv Kristine Espenæs Krull so that track and "Slaughter Falls" reminds one of something from Atrocity.

Overall Red Descending has presented us with something fresh and the perfect blend of melody and heavier metal. Watch out for these Australians as Where Dreams Come To Die is quite a nice breath of fresh air in the Melodic Death Metal scene.