CATALOG
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OF SCULPTURED IVY AND STONE FLOWERS - REVIEWS
January, 2000 - Mark Gromen -
Metal Maniacs
Of Sculptured Ivy and Stone Flowers
There are many bands similar to Novembers Doom, yet there is no band quite like the Chi-town natives. Amid it's Hallowed Mirth, the band's 1995 debut, gave no indication of what was to follow, as years of refinement and recruitment of superior musicians (including Mary Bielich, ex-Mythic) have transformed Novembers Doom into a world class outfit. Sounding like a collaboration between the British Big 3 (Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, and Anathema), the band distills the masterworks of the atmospheric triumvirate, reveling in despair and grievous matters of the heart. Intelligently constructed, so as to bring emotions to the fore, the changes in dynamics and use of multiple voices, both male (founder Paul Kuhr) and female (the recently departed Cathy Jo Hejna) wind through lengthy instrumental passages that are suddenly interrupted by acoustic guitar, piano or sound effects, like a gurgling stream or the rain throughout the spoken "Serenity Forgotten." The trio of songs originally comprising the For Every Leaf That Falls EP has been re-recorded here. "Jealous Sun" kicks at the heels of Paradise Lost's Gothic, while "Reaping Forest Calm" is an aggressive, energized number, atypical of the heavy-footed pace. On "Forever With Unopened Eye", Kuhr opts for clean, melodic vocals and the band churns out a catchy mid-tempo rocker. Only a few bands on this side of the Atlantic possess the talent to stand alongside the European hierarchy. Novembers Doom are one of them.
September, 1999 - Asgorath -
Dark Desire web zine
Novembers Doom - Of Sculptured Ivy and Stone Flowers
Novembers Doom is again signed to a label and have released a new cd. After first admiring the great art work, [ done by their vocalist Paul Kuhr ] I started listening to their new work. Well new work, the 3 songs that where on their Mcd For every Leaf that Falls can again be found on this album. Those songs don't seem to have changed a lot but I do like the new versions better. Besides those 3 remakes there are 7 new songs, of which one, "Before the Wind", is kind of an instrumental intermezzo. What all the tracks have in common is that they just sound so pleasing to the ear. It's been some time since I've heard a death/doom sound so assessable. [ in a good way! ] In fact this is the first band since My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost to have such an assessable, open sound. It's a nice change in the heavy death/doom landscape. But ND does not sound like MDB or PL at all. They have a sound that is clearly their own. Paul Kuhr's grunts go perfectly with Cathy Jo Hejna's angelic voice. At times he also whispers or uses clean vocals. This together with some intelligent song writing means most songs are able to really surprise you. Especially "Forever with Unopened Eye", it almost sounds like stoner-rock! A very groovy song which I did not expect at all, but love none the less. In a way it sounds a bit like the The Blood Divine. If you are just getting into death/doom this is certainly a band and album you need to check out. And if you are already a fan of this genre you probably already know ND. All I can say then is that you won't be disappointed by this album.
March, 1999 - Andrew Craighan of My Dying Bride
Of Sculptured Ivy and Stone Flowers
Nothing could have prepared me for the sounds of Novembers Doom. I feel it to be a landmark in the genre, they have opened doors in which only the brave may tread and walked tall in the knowledge that they have created something new, something that has, at this moment in time, no equal. They have created a record of substance, each song it's own entity to be drawn into. Absolute doom it is not, however, but still manages to sound desolate when need be. Each song is executed with precision rarely seen at this level, my hat off to them for this achievement alone. The vocals I truly love as they remind me of doom bands of old, and yet the new clean style is also perfectly timed and matched within the songs its used in. I am particularly impressed by the guitar work that Eric Burnley produces, it has a distinct feel to it that I have not come across before, almost a new style. The only problem with a CD such as this is picking a favorite, so many of the songs are deserving each with their own particular merits. But at this moment I would have to go for "Forever With Unopened Eye" simply because it has the best opening riff and the vocals on it are fucking brilliant. A real step forward for the band, the clean vocals give them another dimension. I have nothing but praise for this band as they have recorded a CD of great quality which must surely secure their standing in the Black, dirge ridden world of doom. Hail!
August, 1999 - Chris Bruni -
Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles
Novembers Doom – Of Sculptured Ivy And Stone Flowers
Along with Morgion, Novembers Doom are another depressive US band destined to see success. With influences seemingly derived from the first Anathema album and all else Yorkshire, Novembers Doom trudge along with heavy power chords fused with luscious melody and striking, shivering emotion. Another worthy dimension is the 70's influence, some melancholic passages evoking Floyd. But as happens with so many bands who attempt this style, Novembers Doom are actually heavy, refusing to tread the weepy romantic mire that plagues the European scene. Don't pass it by.
October, 1999 - Chris Ayers -
Musicomet Magazine
Novembers Doom – Of Sculptured Ivy And Stone Flowers
Truth be told, it's difficult not to compare this doom outfit to labelmate Em Sinfonia (the new doom project headed by Broken Hope guitarist Brian Griffin). Vocalist Paul Kuhr also growls and designed eye-popping cover art for Em Sin; ex-Mythic bassist Mary Bielich plays for both bands; and Griffin produced Of Sculptured Ivy at his own Quali-Tone studio and even took the band photo. But the differences are subtler and require multiple listenings to embrace fully. Novembers Doom uses no violin or strings to achieve their somber stances. Regarding the operatic female vocals, Cathy Jo Hejna has ultimately the better voice for these types of compositions, whereas Em Sin's April Domet tended to hang on the bottom of her notes. But if My Dying Bride's recent stylistic shift disappointed you, then Novembers Doom is the cure for your frustration. Beginning with a roaring fire sample, "With Rue And Fire" steps right out of Turn Loose The Swans-era MDB in your stereo with a renewed vitality and crystal-clear integrity. Hejna's gentle vibrato trades off with Kuhr's clean vocals, though Kuhr's gruff but intelligible snarls dominate the tune. "The Jealous Sun" suffers slightly from artificial melancholy and an overall lack of ultra-tightness, but "Suffer The Red Dream" improves the mood with Sasha Horn's brilliant drumming and the breathtaking guitars of Erik Kikke and Eric Burnley. Spotlighting Hejna's amazing voice, "All The Beauty Twice Again" puts The Gathering, Theater Of Tragedy, and all other goth/doom groups to shame completely. With its rich keyboard textures and tribal percussion, the instrumental interlude "Before The Wind" works well in its track placement between the incredibly heavy "Reaping Forest Calm" (you'll swear it's an old MDB outtake) and "For Every Leaf That Falls." Then "Serenity Forgotten" resonates through rainstorm sounds with a distinctive dash of Tiamat's wildhoney. Kuhr switches to clean vocals for the rockingly buoyant "Forever With Unopened Eye," which will have Type O fans salivating. After a chirping bird sounds, the closer "Dawn Breaks" brings the doom machine full-circle to MDB regions, hopefully to stay. What took Paradise Lost and MDB three albums to perfect, Novembers Doom nearly does in one, which is quite a feat in a doom world where the "all the good doom comes from Europe" attitude prevails more often than not.
