Illimitable Dolor Remind Us Despite the Darkness, There’s Always a Glimmer of Hope
It's no secret that emotion is obligatory for a good song and there are few things that evoke emotion like the death of a loved one. It's not strange that this combination can lead to remarkable results, especially within the already gloomy realm of doom metal. There's a plethora of examples of brilliant songs that were written as a form of grief counseling. There are also entire albums dedicated to the subject, such as the monolithic Mirror Reaper by Bell Witch. Some people even write multiple albums to cope with the loss.
Juha Raivio already released three albums to mourn his beloved Aleah. Trees of Eternity's Hour of the Nightingale was completed as a tribute to the singer, who passed away of cancer in 2016, and he utilized her poems and unused lyrics for No Stars Upon the Bridge, recorded with Hallatar in 2017. The latest Swallow The Sun record, When A Shadow Is Forced Into The Light, still has the subject of Raivio's grief woven throughout the music.
Australia's ILLIMITABLE DOLOR is a band whose foundation was built upon grief. Three of the core members were making waves with funeral doom entity The Slow Death when their vocalist and close friend Gregg Williamson passed away because of heart failure in 2014. This inspired Dan Garcia (first bass, currently guitar), drummer Yonn McLaughlin and Stuart Prickett (vocals, guitar, keyboards) to form a new band to process their endless sorrow.
It took another two years before their self-titled debut on Transcending Obscurity Records was released. On this record, Illimitable Dolor proved to be a strong extension of The Slow Death, trading the bleak, tormented lyrics for a more melancholic approach. Listeners were treated to four slabs of funeral doom of epic proportions. The band received great feedback from both the media and fans, thanking followers by announcing that a follow-up was on the way.
Stream by Illimitable Dolor
After the announcement, things went quiet. During the summer of 2018, the band released a stream of well-executed covers of songs by Skepticism, Paradise Lost and This Empty Flow. While this was enough to keep me satisfied for a bit, I kept looking forward to a new release. And it's like they say: be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it. It's only April and we already have not only one, but two new Illimitable Dolor releases, plus a new record by The Slow Death on the way!
Last February, the band released a split with countrywoman Samantha Kempster's PROMETHEAN MISERY. Illimitable Dolor kicks off with "Kitsune." Clocking in just short of seven minutes, it seems quite compact for a funeral doom song, yet manages to deliver and grab you. The sound is rawer and even heavier than on the debut, with the colorful synths cutting through the bass-heavy mix, while the church organ keeps the listener grounded -- all of this with '90s death-doom vibes all over it.
Illimitable Dolor / Promethean Misery split album by Illimitable Dolor
In hindsight, the opening number can be considered a warning, because Illimitable Dolor's second song, "Tamtu," takes things to a whole other level. Running at just over 18 minutes, the band takes its time to build up this majestic slab of heaviness. This may well be one of the best songs the band has ever written. There's lots of variation and every instrument gets the time to shine, without straying too far from the path. The song feels like a whole, not just sections glued together. It projects the same woeful atmosphere that made the debut record such a delight to listen to.
Illimitable Dolor / Promethean Misery split album by Illimitable Dolor
The Promethean Misery half of the split is no less impressive. On "Mind At Wrest," I discovered just how hard one woman can doom. It's as if My Dying Bride somehow re-invented themselves, without straying too far from their signature sound.
Illimitable Dolor / Promethean Misery split album by Promethean Misery
Illimitable Dolor / Promethean Misery split album by Promethean Misery
It fits in perfectly well with the great death-doom acts of the '90s. It is, however, this sound, in combination with Samantha's emotional vocal performance on "Shadow Fell and Followed," that shows the true artistry of the lady. Every fan of the genre will be heavily entertained by this record.
As if the split isn't big enough of a treat, Transcending Obscurity also released Illimitable Dolor's follow up record, 'Leaden Light' (2019). Opener, "Armed He Brings The Dawn," immediately reminds me why I enjoy this music so much. It makes perfect use of bright organ sounds and sad piano parts on a foundation of heavy guitars and pounding drums. Once the vocals kick in, you're immersed in what can only be described as pure melancholy. At moments it lifts you up, only to drop you in a dark pit seconds later.
Leaden Light (Atmospheric Death/Doom Metal) by ILLIMITABLE DOLOR (Australia)
The other songs are darker than "Armed..." though certainly no less impressive. The middle section of "Horses Pale and Four" feels like a maelstrom of sound and emotion, pulling you deeper and deeper into a technicolor void. Album closer "2.12.14" might be a license to go absolutely black, but instead the band shows that there can also be happy memories attached to the trauma. For however dark the music might seem, Illimitable Dolor never fully lets go of the light. Instead of drowning in depression, the band always keeps a shimmer of light in their sound.
Leaden Light (Atmospheric Death/Doom Metal) by ILLIMITABLE DOLOR (Australia)
And for me, there lies the essence of what makes Illimitable Dolor special. Many funeral and death doom bands focus solely on the darkness, but these guys are different. They take you on an emotional roller coaster. Just like a good roller coaster, it's exciting -- maybe even a bit scary -- but once the ride is over, you've truly enjoyed it. You want to go again. And again. Until you are absolutely sick of it.
