### The 11th Hour: Burden of grief

#### 04/11/09 || Lord K Philipson

“WATERMARKED”!!! That’s pretty much the first fucken thing I see when I get this promotional CD from the label. Fuck does that mean, am I supposed to listen to it or fucken bathe with it? Labels really need to find a solution to this downloading/“sharing is caring” bullshit, but I don’t think making CD’s marked with H2O is the solution.

I know, I’m the fucken Wayne Gretzky of unexpected jokes. Fuck you.

Which 11th Hour are we talking about anyways? This one hailing from Sweden? Maybe this one? Probably not that one coz they have “Band” added to their moniker… Maybe it’s these fuckers? I guess it could be this bunch of jackoff’s too, huh? I could go on for fucken 11 hours (haha) when it comes to pointing out what an incredibly original name the band at hand chose for their mission. But I shall not. Ok, just one more. There, I’m done.

This The 11th Hour is the new project formed (and pretty much performed) by Ed (d)War(f)by of Gorefest/Hail Of Bullets fame. He got a Swedish vocalist on board who holds a nice growl and who compliments the clean vocals of Ed mightily fine. Yeah, the drummer himself has boldly taken on the task of actually singing on this here album. And he passes with flying colors. Ed’s got a nice voice even if it comes across as a little thin at times. But I guess that’s where Johansson comes in with his bear voice to add the needed depth.

What we are dealing with here is doom metal. I like 2, and 2 only, doom metal bands. Candlemass and Solitude Aeturnus. Doom has never been a fave genre for me, simply becoz I believe the style itself is so dependent on great vocalists and catchy riffs considering the tempo is anything but uplifting and jolly. I think I can add The 11th Hour as the third band to my “doom metal I dig”-list now. Thanx for that. It sure means you guys are good at this slow shit.

It really sounds like Ed’s been putting quite some time into the writing of this album. The long songs flow really well and the included keyboards make a difference. You will find a few crappy, absolute standard riffs, sure, but I guarantee you will experience a hella lot more groovy, beautiful and depressing ones. Nice, slow guitar harmonies are splattered all over in symbiosis with Ed’s and Johansson’s fine vocals. In combination with the neatly arranged strings and whatnot you are in for quite a treat.

I have absolutely nothing bad to say about the production either. It’s heavy and clean. Ok, the bass could have been a little higher, but that’s how it always is.

Bottomline: this is quality work on all fucken accounts and it’s also a breath of fresh air which is weird considering doom metal is usually anything but. Good work, my children.

- Information
- Released: 2009
- Label: Napalm Records
- Website: The 11th Hour MySpace
- Band
- Ragnhild “Rogga” Johansson: vocals
- Ed Warby: clean vocals, all instruments

- Tracklist
- 01. One last smoke
- 02. In the silent grave
- 03. Origins of mourning
- 04. Weep for me
- 05. Atonement
- 06. Longing for oblivion