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Being a huge fan of the first two albums of Rapture and especially their debut ‘Futile’ I have been waiting with anticipation for the arrival of their new record. For those who aren’t familiar with this formation from Finland their music is in my eyes the perfect follow up to the Katatonia album ‘Brave Murder Day’. This doesn’t mean that Rapture does not have its own identity, on the contrary. After three albums the band created a very distinctive sound. They are also part of the Spinefarm family by which I mean that a few members of Rapture also play in Finnish label mates like ‘Shape Of Despair’ and ‘Finntroll’.
The opening track ‘Misery 24/7’ lets you hear straightaway what Rapture is all about. It’s a song that you will directly love or hate but probably love because of its beauty and darkness. The combination of melody and hardness with both guitar and vocal work in mind is just heartbreaking. The rest of the album is not as ‘catchy’ if you will but it needs more time to grow. You do have to listen to the record a few times to notice the small details that makes ‘Silent Stage’ such an enjoyable piece of music. One of my favorite songs besides the first track is ‘I Am Complete’. The dominating clean vocals produced by one of the two singers Rapture has, gives a very tender ascending climax at the end. Although the grunts and double bass drums are still present, musically the band has changed its sound a bit but this album is a logical continuation of the 2002 release ‘Songs For the Withering’. On a few songs the doom aspect has been faded more to the background to make way for a progressive gothic metal/rock sound which isn’t bad. It’s just a direction most legendary doom bands like ‘Paradise Lost’ and ‘Katatonia’ are heading. But then again the record finishes of with an ‘old school’ instrumental doom song. The important thing is that Rapture is still Rapture and the fans will keep appreciating the music.
Sadly enough the musical genius of ‘Futile’ will never be repeated again. In the metal scene of today we should be glad that there are bands like Rapture that could appeal to a wider doom/death metal audience from both the underground and mainstream scene but I don’t really see Rapture playing big venues if they ever go on tour.
| Tracklist |
| 1. Misery 24/7 |
| 2. The Past Nightmares |
| 3. I Am Complete |
| 4. For The ghosts Of Our Time |
| 5. Silent Chrysalis Stage |
| 6. Dreaming Of Oblivion |
| 7. The Times We Bled (Closure) |
| 8. Completion |
: 41.21
| Buy other Rapture albums |
