Marianas Rest - Auer (2023)

As a great complement and alternative to bands like Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum, and similar outfits, Marianas Rest has taken the scene by surprise with their highly melancholic and Doomy Melodic Death Metal. With “Auer” the band continues to deliver waves of atmosphere and bleakness in eight expertly crafted tracks. If you are a fan of melancholy, atmosphere, and heavy Death/Doom vibes, this is a release you can’t miss out on.

Opening with the album title track, we get a piercing mid-tempo track with punishing vocals and crafty guitars. The band really warms up as “Diseased” and “Light Reveals Our Wounds”, as we get more familiar melodic riffs and the atmospheric keyboards of Aapo Koivisto (Omnium Gatherum). We particularly enjoy how subtle and yet effective the atmosphere is, perfectly pairing with Jaakko Mäntymaa’s mixture of spoken and harsh vocals.

One of our personal favorites has to be the solemn “The Ground Still Burns” and its very bleak vibe, which suddenly transforms into waves of melancholy. The band’s sound is quite unique in the sense that they don’t really sound like anybody else anymore, as they have evolved into their own unique take on the genre, as we can hear from tracks like “The Hanging Blade” and “Fear Travels Fast” which keep things interesting and diverse.

Closing with the demoralizing “Sirens”, the band features none other than Aaron Stainthorpe (My Dying Bride) on vocals, creating a truly haunting and eerie experience. Overall, “Auer” is one of those releases that perfectly blends different styles to create unique and different songs that are nicely arranged together. The band’s sound continues to get bleaker and more melancholic, while staying true to their Doomy and melodic roots.

Label: Napalm Records

Release: March 24th, 2023

Genre: Melodic Death Metal

Country: Finland