Turn Loose The Swans 1994

"Revolutionary.

Turn Loose The Swans , the sophomore effort by My Dying Bride is an extremely unique album when considering its historical importance and the mind-boggling progression between this record and the debut As The Flower Withers . A dramatic change can is easily noticeable in that the group no longer plays the powerful Death/Doom exclusively, and has implemented such features that make their sound truly uncategorisable and impossible to put in whatever box you have got prepared for them. Martin Powell, now a full group colleague of the musicians, plays a greater role on this record, two of the seven total tracks lacking any heavy metal expression and consisting of gentle and melancholic violin and piano composition. In addition, he has become more brave in taking part in heavier sections, with the screeching, weeping violin sound that has been copied numerous times by now.

The album is surrounded by a tragic, fatal aura, and the lyrics are extremely bleak and depressing, much like the music itself, dealing with loss, hatred and despair. Conversely, it is drastically different from the debut in that way that there is so much variety in the songwriting in virtually every single track that the listening experience becomes absolutely breathtaking, as there are all the moments that make the music worthwhile. The track lengths and compositional structure are very progressive, with the average song being roughly nine minutes long. A large number of tempo changes and unpredictable song progressions are involved, making the listening fascinating. If you add sincere emotion and almost a surrealistic, unconventional approach to expression and a unique aesthetic, it becomes less surprising that this album has such value.

The album has its intro Sear Me Mcmxciii and outro in Black God , both of which lack the extreme tendencies and consist nothing but vocals, violin, piano and synth. The last track sounds like a requiem, with the minimalistic melody being repeated for around four minutes with spoken word, accompanied by a guest female vocalist. There is one particular line that stands out, which inspired a name for another project ( Until Death Overtakes Me ), and it is, in fact, so memorable that I feel like naming something after it as well. Other tracks combine crushing riffs with guttural growls complemented by vital parts with clean, moan-like singing and expressive, emotional instrumentation. Each track is solid and impressive for what it is, however, two songs deserve to be highlighted, that being Your River , that starts slowly and builds up until only around five minutes in the song vocals kick in and that is where it becomes even more fascinating. Another personal favourite is the 12-minute long The Crown Of Sympathy , containing no harsh vocals and having a very obscure, dark ambient-like section in the middle.

Turn Loose The Swans is one of the most powerful and intense musical experienced that can ever be suggested to anyone, and is not too inaccessible to avoid. It is a revolutionary album and without its existence, we would probably not have any exposure to such amazing Progressive acts as Opeth , Novembre , In The Woods... , Agalloch , maudlin of the Well , as well as other Toby Driver's projects, and countless other groups, who wouldn't have reached their respective culminative album if this album never existed. Its influence is not the main motive to buy it, however, as it does not sound dated and is still an urgent addition to anyone's collection."