CoC : Even Vast - Dawning Gloom : Review

Even Vast - _Dawning Gloom_
(Painkiller, 2001)
by: Alvin Wee (7 out of 10)

Yet another pre-release maxi-single from Painkiller Records, this time round the unveiling of Italian Goth-meisters Even Vast. Much as I'd like to avoid making the obvious comparison with The Gathering or Lacuna Coil, _Dawning Gloom_ is more a dreary _Mandylion_ than anything else, and so derivative it almost defeats the purpose of putting it out as a new release. Commendable, however, is the band's ability to sound vaguely engaging and thoughtful, something even bigger names struggle to do at times. Minimal yet superbly refined, the acoustic "Scared for the Last Time" showcases these Italians' impressive song-crafting capabilities, while the title track, as imitative as it is, proves the band both technically and compositionally on par with the best of them. The crunchy, plodding guitar work sets the dreary backdrop perfectly for Antoinetta's melancholy crooning, and the band's sense of cohesion is downright impressive. All the members play off each other, trading riff for chord in a dense polyphony accentuated by Antoinetta's dulcet tones. It's possible this bunch would have eclipsed Scabbia & co. had they emerged earlier, but for now, the hurdle of being labeled as imitators looms large for them.

Contact: http://www.painkiller-records.com

(article published 12/4/2002)

ALBUMS
7/4/2007	Q Kalis	3	Even Vast - Teach Me How to Bleed