Album Review: Graveyard Dirt – Shadows of Old Ghosts

Graveyard Dirt – Shadows of Old Ghosts
Self Released – 29 September 2007

These Irish doomsters have something of a complicated history. Originally forming way back in ‘94, their first demo Of Romance and Fire was released in ‘95. Having piqued the interest of German label Ars Metalli, they were signed the following year with a view to a debut album. A series of setbacks, including guitarist David Reilly’s sustaining an arm injury, led to the band’s dissolution before they ever managed to realise their potential. Cut to 2005, and Graveyard Dirt have reformed. Of Romance and Fire has been re-released, and the band have decided to enter the studio to finally record some of the material that was intended for that elusive debut full-length. Shadows of Old Ghosts is the result, a 34 minute, 3-track EP. As it turns out, we’ve all been missing out bigtime with their absence, as Graveyard Dirt have crafted a work of magisterial brilliance that not only entrenches them firmly within the upper echelons of doom’s considerable heirarchy, but actually surpasses many of their better contemporaries in the process.

The main riff motif that dominates the first 4 minutes of ‘Rise…Fallen Skies’ is sublime; effortlessly invoking that simultaneously uplifting and downtrodden beauty that typifies the best doom. Their sound could best be likened to British scene of the early 90s – Anathema (think Crestfallen and The Silent Enigma as opposed to Judgement), My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost. There’s a tinge of the dark romanticism that typifies those bands too, although it’s delivered in a less overtly hammy fashion. Each of the 3 tracks on offer shift through myriad moods and tempos, yet the familiar dirge of this genre is omnipresent. Paul Leydon gives a spirited performance behind the mic, his combination of throaty roars and whispered spoken word passages like a cross between Darren White and Aaron Stainthorpe.

Since some bands have made it their business to create the slowest, least listenable dirges in the world, Graveyard Dirt have instead concentrated on creating memorable songs. A warm, textured production baths each track in an audible but no less gritty light, and is short of being overly clinical. ‘A Tearless Lament’ highlights this nicely, as a spoken word and intricate, clean guitar midsection launches back into a crushing dirge, and the effect is nothing short of epic. ‘Gathering Storm’ is just as its name suggests, as a calculated build up morphs into a violent climax, whilst it utilises piano and string flourishes to great effect. Shadows of Old Ghosts is thus a lovingly constructed and excellently wirrten piece of work, and as all good EPs should, its brief length leaves you gasping for more. Those of you bored to tears by My Dying Bride’s dreary A Line of Deathless Kings need to hear this, as Graveyard Dirt could show those old dogs about how vital doom should sound these days. And labels? You let these guys release this independently? For shame!

Official Graveyard Dirt MySpace

EP Review: Smashing Pumpkins – American Gothic

Smashing Pumpkins – American Gothic
Reprise – 2 January, 2008

2007’s comeback album Zeitgeist was rather noticable by the absence of any true mellow moments (‘neverlost’ and the album’s namesake bonus track aside), as Billy Corgan attempted to reaffirm Smashing Pumpkins‘ status as out and out rockers once again – understandable considering the awkward and oft-misjudged meanderings Corgan’s career had taken during the band’s 7-year hiatus. American Gothic is a 4-track acoustic EP released on iTunes that serves to redress the balance somewhat, as well as giving us a another sample of Billy’s new incarnation of the band (which features just himself and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, as well as two hired hands for touring purposes).

Those familiar with Smashing Pumpkins‘ repetoire will know that Corgan has a real knack for stirring, acoustic-led numbers, be it ‘Disarm’ from Siamese Dream, ‘Thirty Three’ and ‘In the Arms of Sleep’ of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, and even ‘To Shiela’ from Adore. Thus it’s refreshing to hear Corgan stepping back from the wall-of-sound, multi-layered Zeitgeist and letting things flow a little more naturally as he does here, and the results are rather satisfying. ‘The Rose March’ serves as the anchor for the EP, having been showcased during the the band’s residency stint in San Francisco last summer. It’s also produced by Roy Thomas Barker, who had a hand in much of Zeitgeist, and it shows – his trademark big sound that worked so well for Queen in the past is somewhat awkwardly applied in this instance, which means there are the upfront vocal harmonies found on Zeitgeist, but the song itself still works because of its simplicity, Corgan thankfully holding back on letting too much instrumentation get in the way with just an occasional backdrop of electric guitar. ‘Pox’, meanwhile, is an uptempo acoustic-rock affair, complete with Jimmy Chamberlin’s trademark fills. ‘Again, Again, Again (The Crux)’ proves to be American Gothic’s true gem, again uptempo with an introduction that’s lifted straight from ‘Age of Innocence’ from 2000’s Machina/The Machines of God, and it’s bequeathed with a wonderful, uplifting chorus the likes of which were last seen during the Siamese Dream days. Closer ‘Sunkissed’ is also strong, having quite an ethereal, spacey atmosphere that wouldn’t have sounded out of place alongside the likes of ‘Obscured’ on Pisces Iscariot.

Overall, then, American Gothic serves as a welcome stop-gap release as Billy Corgan continues to try and rekindle the spark that once had them placed at the top of modern rock’s summit. Whilst it’s unlikely to convince some of the more cynical older guard within the Pumpkins‘ fanbase, and Billy Corgan’s vocals will always remain an acquired taste (not to mention that they aren’t quite as strong as they were during his creative peak in the mid-90s), it’s nonetheless another step in the right direction for a band that many (including myself) had once written off as a product of a bygone era.

Official Smashing Pumpkins Website