Colosseum - Chapter I: Delirium

Colosseum at Myspace

Not to be confused with the 60’s prog rock pioneers or the American Sludge-core band on Relapse Record, Colosseum are the latest in a long line of traditional funeral doom metal acts that have come out of Finland. They follow in a long line of such acts such as Thergothon, Skepticism and Shape of Despair but whilst taking ample influence from these acts, they have their own take on the genre. It is a more guitar centric take that owes a very slight debt to Paradise Lost era Gothic and some of the more tuneful displays that Esoteric have put on. The vocals are suitably gruff and uninviting and interplay with the despairing yet humane synth lines.

It’s not what they do though, but what they don’t do which makes them worth your while. A lot of  second wave funeral doom acts drench their songs in keyboard lines. Yes the synth is almost as important as the guitar in finnish style funeral doom, but if it is louder than the guitar line then as metal itself it fails. The synths in good funeral doom are supposed to add to the ambience and pathos of the music and on “Chapter 1: Delirium” this is exactly what happens. The momentum of the perpetual sorrow of this record is seemingly never-ending, and Colosseum has proven themselves to be a definite band to watch out for which future releases.