ITP V.011 REVIEW: COMATOSE VIGIL: FUIMUS, NON SUMUS…

BAND-COMATOSE VIGIL (RUSSIAN FEDERATION, MOSCOW) GENRE-FUNERAL DOOM LABEL: SOLITUDE PRODUCTIONS RELEASE DATE: 9/12/2011

PREVIOUS RELEASES (CATALOG): NARCOSIS (2006-EP-SOLITUDE PRODUCTIONS), NOT A GLEAM OF HOPE (2005-MARCHE FUNEBRE PRODUCTIONS), DEMO (2004), REHEARSAL/DEMO (2003), REHEARSAL/ DEMO (2002)

BEST RELEASE: NARCOSIS (2006)

COMATOSE VIGIL: FUIMUS, NON SUMUS… TRACKLISTING:

1. Fuimus, Non Sumus…
2. Autophobia
3. The Day Heaven Wept



ITP RATING: ***
PRODUCTION: ****
SONGWRITING: ***
PERFORMANCE: *** 1/2

Founded in 2003, COMATOSE VIGIL are a Moscow, Russia based funeral doom trio. Originally formed under the name SUBHUMAN, the band released demo tapes and were discovered by Russian label STYGIAN CRYPT who signed the band under their sub label
MARCHE FUNEBRE. In 2006, COMATOSE VIGIL inked a deal with Russian doom label SOLITUDE PRODUCTIONS for the bands second release "Narcosis".

COMATOSE VIGIL combine bleak funeral doom with claustrophobic/symphonic atmospheres.
COMATOSE VIGIL's slow, plodding desolate sounds capes create creepy and suffocating textures of fear and dread.

Here we have COMATOSE VIGIL's latest release "FUIMUS, NON SUMUS…" released last month on the exellent SOLITUDE PRODUCTIONS.

COMATOSE VIGIL's "FUIMUS, NON SUMUS…" kicks off with the title track, as it is a slow, plodding, dense, heavy, devastating and long composition. COMATOSE VIGIL's "FUIMUS, NON SUMUS…" continues with it's suffocating dread, as the song plods along with tortured screams as (5:34) drummer/vocalist I.K IEZOR sickened growls tell a morbid tale. However, considering the length of "FUIMUS, NON SUMUS…", the tune bores half way through considering the lack of riff changes."FUIMUS, NON SUMUS…" slowly morphs into a Black Sabbath influenced (13:40) snails crawl of bluesy riffage until the composition returns to a traditional funeral doom crawl featuring prog rock riffing, all in a turtle race of 28:06.

COMATOSE VIGILS's "Autophobia" crawls in with plucked guitar reverb, and lightly sprinkled keyboards as I.K IEZOR vocals crawl out of the darkness at 3:37 with quality melodic keyboard interplay. "Autophobia" (5:27) evokes a melodic guitar/keyboard interplay and perfectly timed chugging, stop on a dime riffage and spoken word vocals. COMATOSE VIGILS's "Autophobia's" floor drops for an ambient atmosphere of plucked acoustic guitar interlude before retuning to the most mournful funeral doom with wondrous dramatic keyboards. "Autophobia" often within non vocal instrumentation is repetitive and mesmerizing.

COMATOSE VIGIL's "FUIMUS, NON SUMUS…" closes with the epic track "The Day Heaven Wept". A twangy, plucked guitar intro emotes a melancholic atmosphere as the band kicks in (3:22) with symphonic funeral doom of the highest order. I.K IEZOR's spoken word vocals stalk his victim until he creeps in from the shadows with acute growls
for a mournful composition. "The Day Heaven Wept" features some quality Black Sabbath, almost stoner doom inspired riffs (13:40 and 14:30) with awesome symphonic keyboard arrangements. "The Day Heaven Wept" (20:18) morphs into a progressive symphonic/doom groove into the apocalypse.

COMATOSE VIGIL's "FUIMUS, NON SUMUS…" features three tracks topping the 20:00 mark, as long desolate, slow funeral doom isn't for everyone. When ambitious funeral doom bands write longer compositions it is mandatory to change riffs and to consolidate as many musical ideas as possible within the genres standard repetition.

If COMATOSE VIGIL added more riffs or cut the bands extended compositions in half, the band would have an epic impact and would reach their ambition.

Otherwise, COMATOSE VIGIL's keyboard arrangements have improved, complimenting the bands plodding Black Sabbath/stoner doomed riffs with epic symphonic arrangements inspiring awesome keyboard/guitar riff interplay.

COMATOSE VIGIL's "FUIMUS, NON SUMUS…" is a commitment in length and can often be a laborious affair, although in parts very enticing.

If you can carry that coffin through the frozen tundra of Siberia without a hearse, COMATOSE VIGIL, in your despair, have welcomed you to a funeral, if only if it wasn't such a long journey.

ITP RATING: ***
PRODUCTION: ****
SONGWRITING: ***
PERFORMANCE: *** 1/2

Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-