Heavenwood - Abyss Masterpiece [2011]

Abyss Masterpiece is an album that immediately reminds me of Septicflesh's 2011 release The Great Mass, not only because of its recent freshness in my mind, but because of its similar integration of orchestra sections with death metal elements. Many factors differ between the two, however. For one, Heavenwood falls in the gothic doom genre with only hints of death, most of which being inspired by vocals alone. There is a lot of variety here, which is a characteristic that many of Heavenwood's similar contemporaries lack. It's an important one on Abyss Masterpiece, too, considering that the album runs for twelve full tracks and just about an hour of music overall. Though each and every song may not quite match up with the rest, this is a remarkably conisistent and entertaining piece of work.

The material fluctuates between heavy, dark symphonic pieces and more catchy, accessable songs. This is a formula that often leads to weak filler tracks when used by a mediocre band, but Heavenwood does it so well that any discriminating gothic metal fans should enjoy the lighter parts as much as the night-shrouded ones. Take for example the opening one-two punch of "The Arcadia Order" and "Morning Glory Clouds." The former is a cinematic showing not unlike "The Vampire from Nazareth" while the latter opts for a highly listenable melodic death single approach; it's a perfect way to foreshadow the styles to come. This structure also opens the way for a multitude of different vocals. A bludgeoning but not too unintelligible growl is present for most of the duration, but it's additionally accompanied by full clean vocals and a sludgy 50-50 style somehow appropriate for the occasion. The female vocals in "Leonor" make it a pleasent surprise and one of the more memorable showpieces here.

To be honest, I prefered the cleaner cuts from Abyss Masterpiece, an aspect of Heavenwood they should take with great pride. Few do these types of songs better. Tracks like "Once a Burden" and "Like Yesterday" are great enough already, but when "A Poem for Matilde" plays, it brings with it an emotion power I've only seldom heard elsewhere. This is a beauty of a track, a sweet, moving display of genuine passion. As with the rest of the album, the lyrics show an adept knowledge of longing and promise.

"Blessed and divine, my world your eyes
I'm distinguished
I'll never let you down
Your hand in mine, we'll rule the time
Autumn or Winter
I'll never let you down"

For haters of symphonic or orchestral utilization in their metal, all I can say is that Abyss Masterpiece is less of a full symphony than The Great Mass and that you shouldn't let a rather unimportant qualm get in the way of a great album. Heavenwood knows when to use additional instruments and when to keep them quiet and play with sheer simplistic feel. The final result plays like a highlight reel of gothic metal's best aspects. This may not be the heaviest nor most stylish pig in the excellent 2011 litter, but it certainly isn't the runt, or even close, for that matter. It has enough meat on its bones to feed your ears for many listens, probably en route to winning "best in show" accolades for its genre. So, that about does it: an epic metaphor for an epic album.

   Overall: 8/10 (Great - I adore a soul that doesn't feel)