Record Exchange Boise

Reviews:

Doomsters who drowned their sorrows in Rapture's debut album Futile,released in the states via Relapse Records in late 2001, will no doubt recallthe band's ardor for the hypnotic hum of Brave Murder Day-era Katatonia.The great Kat and early Paradise Lost still remain excellent reference pointsfor this Helsinki outfit, but with a few significant personnel changes—namely,the addition of second vocalist Henri Villberg and guitarist Aleski Ahokas replacingJarno Salovaara, who now joins fellow frowning Fins Shape of Despair on a full-timebasis—Rapture have grown beyond the mere hero worship of their early material.

What really separates Songs for the Withering from its predecessor, however,is the record's reliance on traditionally sung choruses and refrains. Onthe striking "Transfixion" the newly acquired Villberg presents theband with a choral vocal presence to juxtapose the unforgiving growls of PetriEskelinen—whose roar still bears more than a passing resemblance to thatof Opeth crooner Mikael Åkerfeldt. "Raintracks" and "Nameless"both explore similarly tumultuous and tranquil guitar dynamics, holding backbefore gaining momentum like a long-distance runner. Conversely, other trackslike "The Vast" and "The Great Distance" eschew the band'sgorgeous, pulsating riffs a little too much in favor of early ‘90s shoegazingdrones that never properly develop into solid hooks. It's a balance fewgroups outside of Opeth and My Dying Bride have ever been able to properly strike,but if the strides made on Songs for the Withering, are any indicator,expect Rapture to simply seek their own left hand path to travel.