Near Death Experience - 2024 - Brief Is the Light

(47:56; M&O Music)






















Track list:
1. And Then There Was Silence 2:04
2. No Tomorrow 5:37
3. Brief Is the Light 6:04
4. As Life Fades 5:03
5. Stolen Seasons 4:04
6. Her Wounded Soul 5:38
7. A Voice in the Dark 5:14
8. The Neverending Journey 5:54
9. Dreaming of Oblivion 5:48
10. And I Return to Nothingness 2:30

Line-up:
Mathieu Bonfardin - drums
Thibault Rousseau - bass
Jonathan Prudhomme - guitars
Frederic Paume - guitars
Anne Soazig Couëdel - vocals


French band Near Death Experience is the creative vehicle of composer and musician Mathieu Bonfardin, and from 2021 and onwards he has developed material for this venture. The end result of this creative process is the album "Brief Is the Light" which was released through French label M&O Music in the spring of 2024.

While the material for this album has been created by one person, the band leader has assembled a proper band to record the material for this album and obviously also in order to be able to be a proper live band. And for my sake I do believe that this is a band that might be more interesting to see live at this stage of their career, as the moods and atmospheres explored on this production strikes me as ones that may come across more interesting to hear live than in the studio version.

It is doom metal that is the foundation of this production, with some songs revolving around a more typical slow set pace and momentum with the guitar riffs to match, while other songs may flirt ever so slightly with thrash metal and, at least to a lesser extent, power metal. Atmospheric laden elements is something of a key feature throughout, most prominently by way of gentler, plucked guitar details adding a more delicate touch to the arrangements but also by a liberal use of ongoing guitar solo overlays. A little bit of a dramatic and borderline Gothic feel is a lesser presence too, mainly by way of mainly delicate piano additions to the arrangements on occasion. Powerful female lead vocals adds an energetic and emotional touch to the proceedings, with a vocalist that does have a tone and a timbre that does make it a distinct presence throughout.

For my sake I find this album to be a pleasant experience, but ultimately also one that I'd describe as having a bit more of a niche appeal. The songs are compelling, the album is well produced, but at least for my sake in music there isn't enough at hand here to make this one a production that stands out in any specific manner. Those who have a strong general affection for the more atmospheric laden varieties of atmospheric laden doom metal might want to give this one a listen though, as this is a creation I would describe as tailor-made for that specific demographic.

Olav M. Björnsen, May 2024

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/neardeathexperiencemusic
https://www.m-o-music.com/

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