Review: Grieving Age - In Aloof Lantern, Thy Bequeathed A Wailer Quietus

Band: Grieving Age

Genre: Doom/Death Metal

Released: July 16th

Produced By: Kamal Al Nauimi

Mixed And Mastered By: Dan Swano

Artwork By: Aaron Stainthorpe


Grieving Age is a Doom/Death Metal band hailing from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The band was founded by Front man Ahmed Shawli and Guitarist Ghassan Fudail back in 2003.

On July 16th, Grieving Age released their debut full length album "In Aloof Lantern, Thy Bequeathed A Wailer Quietus" which is a brutally charged Doom metal release.

The album is 36 minutes of dark, brutal doom/death metal splitting into 2 songs "A Quadrennial Dame Pyres, Hearses Shall No Yawn, Thence..." and "Therefore A Myriad, Of Gargoyles Bellow Their Aborted Versicles, Quoth Thee..." the first track (story) tells of 3 Butchers and their sins, with a woman held for torture. While "Therefore A Myriad..." speaks of worthless scumbags and their shame. The song has a awesome thrash turn 3 and half minutes into it.

Production on the album is impressively top notch, courtesy of Kamal Al Nauimi (Deathless Anguish and Flesh Laceration) Ahmed's vocals are monstrous on the album, with some serious guttural growls through out the release.

"In Aloof Lantern, Thy Bequeathed A Wailer Quietus" was mixed and mastered by legendary Swedish musician/producer Dan Swano (Edge Of Sanity, Bloodbath) while artwork was handled by Doom Metal's favorite eye lined front man Aaron Stainthorpe.

Lyrics on the album fit the music perfectly, the subjects handled are expressed well and covers the story vividly. As dark as the lyrics could be on the album, it's shaped up artistically.

The band obtains great musicianship, and tries to diversify their sound around their doom/death metal song structures "Therefore A Myriad, Of Gargoyles Bellow Their Aborted Versicles, Quoth Thee..." which has a thrash metal edge, starts off acoustically calm and subtle, only to get your face crushed by Ahmed's guttural growls of the words "Succumb All Of You Scums" which has to be one of my favorite parts on the album.

"In Aloof Lantern, Thy Bequeathed A Wailer Quietus" utilizes the classic Doom/Death metal formula with a passionate step forward, the band sticks to the roots of the genre and tries to expand the boundaries within. If your a fan of Saturnus, and would like a more raw, sludgy and brutal sound, I highly recommend Grieving Age.

I give "In Aloof Lantern, Thy Bequeathed A Wailer Quietus" a 7.5/10.

Here's a medley from the album to give you a taste of Grieving Age:

Grieving Age are:

Ahmed (Vocals)
Ghassan (Guitars)
Diya (Guitars)
Hosam (Bass)
Abdullah (Session Guitars)
Emad (Drums) [Who also fronts Wasted Land]


Grieving Age On Myspace