Reido - F:\all
Solitude Productions
Funeral Doom/Drone
5 songs (70'09")
Release year: 2006
Reido, Solitude Productions
Reviewed by Adam
Most funeral doom bands generally embody a cold, harsh atmosphere, so it’s fitting that Belarus’ two man (at least at the time of this release, they have since added a third member) outfit Reido chose a name that translates to “absolute zero temperature” in Japanese. I say “fitting” because there are no beautiful or uplifting aspects to be found on their debut album, F:\all, which is far and away the most brooding and dark release currently offered by our friends at Russia’s Solitude Productions.

As most already know, funeral doom is usually very polarizing, and F:\all is no different. “Absolute Zero Temperature” is not only the literal name of the band, but also goes a long way in conveying the theme and mood of this album. The band has stated that throughout the two year recording process of this album, in which they shed two of their original members, their music took a turn from melodious to slow and mournful, and I will certainly vouch for the latter description. If you’ve found it hard to enjoy bands like Esoteric in the past, you’ll probably find little here to enjoy, as Reido offer only slight variations in their approach. If this kind of music interests you, as it does me, then listening to F:\all is a worthwhile undertaking. The opener, Zero Level Activity, aptly darkens the mood using an eerie blend of feedback, droning noise, and deep guitar bursts, with a scarce low growl as the only vocal portion. You really get a better notion of this band’s sound on the following track, the suitably titled Frozen Terror. The union of the electronic noise and synths more common in the drone scene with the low, heavy guitar and rhythm sections and the almost whispered groan of Alexander “Faceless” Kachar make for interesting results. As with most funeral doom, Reido’s songs carry long lengths, with all but the opening track surpassing the fifteen minute mark. Of course, this isn’t a problem if you enjoy doom. Unfortunately, there is too little variation on these songs and I often found myself drifting off and losing focus. Perhaps that was the band’s intent, lulling their listeners into a dark trance. However, it is possible for an album to wash an all-encompassing, trancelike ambience over its listener while still commanding their attention, an aspect that was absent from this album. There are bright spots, though. The opening lead of I Am the Absolute Truth is fantastic, and Exhausted sees some of the album’s finest riffing while showcasing a haunting whisper which fits the band’s style perfectly. With a few alterations, those songs could have been outstanding. As it stands, they’re merely adequate.

F:\all has qualities befitting a “promising” debut, by which I mean that there are definitely positive elements and plenty of tools to work with. They’re just not utilized properly here, in my opinion. If Reido can manage to focus their sound a little more on the next outing, funeral doom fans could have an impressive work to add to their collection.
Killing Songs :
Zero Level Activity
Adam quoted 62 / 100
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