The Silent Enigma Review
| Band | |
|---|---|
| Album |  The Silent Enigma |
| Type | Album (Studio full-length) |
| Released | August 23, 1995 |
| Genres | Death Doom Metal, Gothic Metal |
| Labels | Peaceville Records |
| Length | 54:40 |
| Ranked | #19 for 1995 , #974 all-time |
Album rating : 91.5 / 100
Votes : 12 (2 reviews)
Votes : 12 (2 reviews)
October 13, 2022
Much like it took some time for Death Metal to shed its Thrash roots, and Doom Metal to evolve out of Trad Doom, so too did Death Doom undergo a lengthy transitional phase. In the late 80’s into the early 90’s, Death Doom was, more or less, slow Death Metal, and many of the early releases no longer represent what the genre would become. In time, Death Doom added its signature focus on atmosphere and melancholia, and became something completely separate from Death Metal, named more so for the inclusion of harsh vocals and other extreme metal tropes.
The Silent Enigma is one of the earliest examples of Death Doom in its fully fleshed out form, completely forgoing any hint of Death Metal stylistically and taking a full focus on crafting melodic yet crushing pieces of dark atmosphere and morose despair. A surprising amount of energy is found here, with the opening track aggressively assaulting you with poetic shrapnel of hopelessness. A great deal of variety is found in the following tracks, with classic plodding Doom full of panic-attack inducing atmospheres, gentle gothic style interludes, and a few that sit somewhere in between. The penultimate track, A Dying Wish, remains a crowning achievement of Death Doom, the 8-minute track delivering an uncompromising death throe of mourning and regret.
The Silent Enigma is one of the earliest examples of Death Doom in its fully fleshed out form, completely forgoing any hint of Death Metal stylistically and taking a full focus on crafting melodic yet crushing pieces of dark atmosphere and morose despair. A surprising amount of energy is found here, with the opening track aggressively assaulting you with poetic shrapnel of hopelessness. A great deal of variety is found in the following tracks, with classic plodding Doom full of panic-attack inducing atmospheres, gentle gothic style interludes, and a few that sit somewhere in between. The penultimate track, A Dying Wish, remains a crowning achievement of Death Doom, the 8-minute track delivering an uncompromising death throe of mourning and regret.
3 likes
Track listing (Songs)
| title | rating | votes | video | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Restless Oblivion | 8:03 | 93 | 5 | Audio |
| 2. | Shroud of Frost | 7:31 | 92 | 5 | |
| 3. | ...Alone | 4:24 | 88 | 5 | |
| 4. | Sunset of the Age | 6:57 | 91 | 5 | |
| 5. | Nocturnal Emission | 4:20 | 91 | 5 | |
| 6. | Cerulean Twilight | 7:05 | 90 | 6 | |
| 7. | The Silent Enigma | 4:25 | 94.2 | 6 | Music Video |
| 8. | A Dying Wish | 8:12 | 97.5 | 8 | Audio |
| 9. | Black Orchid | 3:40 | 89 | 5 |
Line-up (members)
- Vincent Cavanagh : Vocals & Guitars
- Daniel Cavanagh : Lead Guitars
- Duncan Patterson : Bass
- John Douglas : Drums
10,434 reviews
| cover art | Artist | Album review | Reviewer | Rating | Date | Likes | |
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Alternative 4 Review (1998)
OUTLAW 85/100Sep 8, 2020 Likes : 5
우울함이 짙게 느껴지는 깊은 감성이 있는 음악이지만, 다 같이 죽자는 식으로 엄청나게 디프레시브하지는 않고 다소간의 여백의 미와 듣는 재미는 챙겨주는 밴드이다. 엘범 초반의 1~3번 콤보를 즐겨 들었다. 러닝 타임을 의식해서인지 갑자기 마무리하는 듯한 트렉이 몇 곡 있다. 가사가... Read More
Resonance Review (2001) [Compilation]
OUTLAW 80/100Sep 20, 2020 Likes : 4
누구나 어디에서나 본인이 원하는 플레이리스트로 원하는 곡을 바로 들을 수 있는 현시대에 편집엘범의 가치는 과거 카세트나 시디플레이어 시대와는 비교조차 할 수 없을 것이다. 과거에는 꽤나 가치있게 여겨졌던 편집엘범은 주로 대중성을 고려한 싱글 지향의 곡들이나 히트곡 모음으... Read More
▶ The Silent Enigma Review (1995)
SilentScream213 95/100Oct 13, 2022 Likes : 3
Much like it took some time for Death Metal to shed its Thrash roots, and Doom Metal to evolve out of Trad Doom, so too did Death Doom undergo a lengthy transitional phase. In the late 80’s into the early 90’s, Death Doom was, more or less, slow Death Metal, and many of the early releases no longer represent what the genre would become. In time, Death Doom added its signatu...
Universal Review (2013) [Live]
휘동이 90/100Apr 29, 2018 Likes : 2
라이브만의 현장감이나 그 분위기또한 좋기에 스튜디오 앨범뿐 아니라 라이브도 좋다고 하는건 찾아듣는 편입니다. 여기 관객과 밴드의 호흡이나 열광적인 분위기 등 많은 점들이 잘 살아있는 아주 훌륭한 라이브가 있습니다. 근래 들어본것들 중 가장 좋게 들은 라이브 중 하나입니다.(사... Read More
Serenades Review (1993)
GM 68/100Jul 23, 2007 Likes : 2
패러다이스로스트(Paradise Lost)와 마이다잉브라이드(My Dying Bride)의 뒤를 이어 고딕 메틀계를 이끌어 나가는 Anathema 의 데뷔 앨범 리이슈! 시적이며 철학적인 가사와 각 곡에 대한 뛰어난 구성력을 보여주는 앨범으로 아직도 그 완성도에 찬사를 받고 있는 수작이다. 고딕메틀의 암울함과 아름... Read More
Alternative 4 Review (1998)
SilentScream213 100/100Jan 24, 2024 Likes : 1
Quite plainly, one of my personal favorite albums ever released. Despite that, I have trouble finding the right words to paint such a picture. If you’ve heard the album, it speaks for itself. If you haven’t yet heard it…
Imagine your world has just been shattered. Not in any vague sense, no – the person you care about and trust most in the whole world has just betray... Read More
Eternity Review (1996)
SilentScream213 95/100Feb 12, 2023 Likes : 1
Eternity is somewhat of a transitional album in Anathema’s discography (though what isn’t, with how often they changed sounds). This one is quite a big shock though, coming from the Death Doom of The Silent Enigma. Here, Anathema have completely fused Doom and Gothic Metal, and added in liberal amounts of Progressive Rock and ethereal ambience. And that last bit is very imp... Read More
Eternity Review (1996)
Megametal 100/100Mar 31, 2021 Likes : 1
Album "Eternity" som hodnotil už v roku 2013, avšak je to tak špičkové album, že som sa rozhodol napísať dlhšiu recenziu a predstaviť dané album viacerým metalovým nadšencom v oblasti Atmosférického Doom/Gothic Metal / Rock -u (ak to vôbec niekoho zaujíma :D). Spolu s predošlým a nasledujúcimi dvoma albumami tvorí z môjho pohľadu najsilnejšie obdobie sk... Read More
