MIRROR REAPER
Profound Lore Records
Funeral Doom Metal
Listening Format: CD
Before I begin... LOOK AT THAT ALBUM COVER!!! GOD DAMN THAT IS FREAKIN' EPIC!!! I WANT THAT ON MY BEDTIME QUILT!!! COME ON RED BUBBLE, QUILT ME UP!!!
Sorry... 'Mirror Reaper' is the 4th full length album (and boy is it full length alright) by Seattle, Washington formed duo Bell Witch. Funeral Doom Metal is a pretty niche and cult subgenre that even some hardcore Metal fans aren't really aware of, but it has produced some absolutely fantastic bands over the decades. To sum it up, it takes Doom Metal to it's most logical extreme before it becomes pure Drone. 50bpm super slow, glacial riffs, massively downtuned guitars with super low vocals, big running times and lots of atmospheric qualities. But I digress. Depending on which format you listen to 'Mirror Reaper', we essentially have an 83 minute long song. Your average Metallica fan will probably scream in sheer terror at the thought, but for those well versed in Funeral Doom Metal, you'll probably be thinking "Meh, is that all?"
The album is presented differently depending on which format you listen to. If you have the Digital version, it's a full 83 minute piece named "As Above So Below". The CD cuts the piece in half spread over 2 discs "As Above" and "So Below", whilst the vinyl edition has to cater to 3 side breaks, "As", "Above", "So, "Below". I went for the middle ground. As a fan of physical music I'd say this is a rare case where the Digital format reigns superior, but if you buy the vinyl edition you'll get that GOD DAMN BEAUTIFUL GATEFOLD ARTWORK!!! I WANT TO WRAP IT OVER MY NAKED BODY AS MY DREAMS TRANSPORT ME TO THE MIRROR WORLD!!! RED BUBBLE!!! TAKE ME TO MY SLUMBER!!!... Sorry... But even the presentation of this album is quite forward thinking. You will genuinely get a different listening experience from each version of the album you choose to hear it on. I like that.
What makes 'Mirror Reaper' even more ambitious is it's concept. Bell Witch drummer and vocalist Adrian Guerra tragically passed away last year at just 36 years old. Bell Witch decided to continue with new drummer and vocalist Jesse Shreibman, but wrote 'Mirror Reaper' as an epitaph to Guerra. I believe that Guerra was actually present in the early stages of making this album anyway, as some of his own vocal recordings have been implemented into the album. He appears on this album more than just in spirit, and that adds a beautiful and emotional context to the music and lyrics.
'Mirror Reaper' is a very challenging listen even for well versed Funeral Doom fans. The album is very slow, sparse and repetitive. Even though the song runs at 83 minutes, don't expect much in the way of progression or variety. It's so slow that it rarely reaches a potential to progress into something. The pacing of the album ranges from standing still to lumbering incredibly slowly through quick sand. The same riff cycle might be padded out for minutes. But fortunately, what makes this song so captivating is it's strong and haunting atmosphere. Technically this is a deceptively simple and sparse album. Just 6 string bass, drums, vocals and some very subtle bassy organ notes that essentially create a low pitched ambient hum. But it is this bareness that actually speaks volumes. The way Bell Witch are able to hold on certain notes creates this teasing tension. Every riff moves like a crashing wave against the jagged rocks, holding a mesmerising power. If you've listened to the likes of Esoteric or even previous Bell Witch releases, the first half of this song isn't worlds away from what you would expect from them, only the riffs sound more drawn out and spacious. This is actually their most melodic release, with stunning use of clean vocals that almost have this ritualistic ghostly choir feel to them, made indecipherable through all of the reverb.
It is the second half (or second disc) that really tipping me over the edge. The last 35 minute chunk of this behemoth almost leaves the Metal realm entirely. Things slow down almost to a complete halt and there are long stretches with no percussion at all. Instead gorgeous melodic bass tapping escalates every so slightly into this incredibly moving and melodic cyclic mantra that reminded me quite a lot of Boris' 'Flood' album (also one giant song). I found myself approaching 'Mirror Reaper' more like an Ambient or possibly Post Rock album (think early Sigur Ros kinds of slow). It's not too often where I go into an Extreme Metal album and come away impressed even more by the non-Metal sections of the music!
If you've had no desire to hear or enjoy Funeral Doom Metal before, 'Mirror Reaper' isn't exactly going to win you over. It still has crushing, sometimes dissonant slabs of riffs and monstrous death growling vocals, and it certainly requires extreme patience to make it through this entire album. But those up for the challenge will leave this album not only humming the melodic arpeggios heard, but feeling like you have been on an epic journey. 'Mirror Reaper' is truly a spiritual piece of music that takes Funeral Doom to it's most literal point. This music actually feels like a funeral or an epitaph, for a dear lost soul. It is packed so fiercely with sadness, heartbreak and loss, and yet is supremely life affirming rather than opting for the feel of despair and hopelessness that Funeral Doom usually delivers. 'Mirror Reaper' is not only the best Funeral Doom Metal album since Esoteric's masterpiece double album 'The Maniacal Vale', but one of the most ambitious, forward thinking and genuinely moving pieces of music you will hear in 2017. 8/10.
Shout out to my man Collier at The Decibel Addict for passionately rambling to me about how much I should hear this album. He wasn't wrong!
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