I’ll be getting my schedule back to normal around April. Genericon definitely shook things up, but with the next convention coming up in July, I’ve got time to get things in their normal spot, as well as planning something special (Hint, Hint). To spice things up a little this month, I thought it was time to read from the tome of Obscurus Metalus once again. Last year I only read from this weird tome twice, covering an obscure release from an unknown band, and one from a very popular artist. This time around, I’m covering an odd release from a fairly popular band. So sit back, relax, and enjoy my look at Draconian’s 1999 demo, The Closed Eyes of Paradise. Let the review begin!
Background
If you thought my look at Substance For God's only release Assembly Of Flowers was an obscure release, let me tell you that information about The Closed Eyes of Paradise is practically non-existent. Apart from the band building this demo off of John Milton’s classic poem Paradise Lost, there is absolutely nothing out there I can find. Sorry if this part feels rather weak.
Basic Description
Goth & Doom mastery!
Draconian is a band that’s a little more varied than your typical Gothic Metal band. That’s certainly their focus, but they supplement things with the slow & sludgy aspects of Doom Metal, and some sprinkles of Death Metal to smooth it all out. The Closed Eyes of Paradise, however, is firmly within the realms of Goth & Doom metal. It’s moody, dark, and the production value (Despite it’s flaws) adds much to the atmosphere. This is definitely a rainy day kind of album: the clouds are grey, rain is gently pouring down, thunder is rumbling off in the distance, and a flash of thunder can be seen out of the corner of your eye.
Best Song
For me, The Closed Eyes of Paradise has 3 standout tracks (The Morningstar, Serenade of Sorrow, The Gothic Embrace). Curiously, Draconian would redo these songs on their compilation album, The Burning Halo, in 2006. I’m not particularly fond of those versions, as the higher production value seems to take something away from them. These versions, however, are downright fantastic! They’re moody, atmospheric, and darkly beautiful in ways people might not understand. A great trio of tunes!
The Morningstar
Serenade of Sorrow
The Gothic Embrace
Worst Song
Honestly, there’s nothing on The Closed Eyes of Paradise that can be considered bad. It’s only real flaw is the production. This is a demo, and as such the sound quality isn’t necessarily the greatest out there. Sound effects sound dated, instrumentation comes across as slightly muted, and the vocal work could use a little more polish. It’s a crying shame, since the dated quality somehow gives this release is flavor & atmosphere.
Other
If you’re liking the music on this album, then good luck finding this! Amazon doesn’t have it, none of the typical music stores, and even Ebay doesn’t have it. Considering it’s age, as well as it’s relative obscurity, it’s understandable why The Closed Eyes of Paradise is exceedingly difficult to locate. This is one of the few times in which downloading is the only way to acquire this release.
Overall Impression & Rating
The Closed Eyes of Paradise is a long lost relic. An album from one of the most chaotic times in music history. Draconian proved through this demo that they were a force to be reckoned with, and while a little hokey & dated, it still contains some great music. Find a link, download it, and enjoy!
The Closed Eyes of Paradise gets a 9 out of 10
So that was my first Obscurus Metals review of 2016. Hopefully, I’ll get more up this year when compared to 2015. See you all next week, when another top 10 list makes itself know. See you soon!
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