Daylight Dies | Idle

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by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer —

Before they became one of the mainstays of the American doom/death scene, North Carolina-based Daylight Dies made their debut on then fledgling label Tribunal Records with the 2000 EP Idle. It may have been the band’s excellent releases on Relapse and Candlelight that got them the exposure that resulted in tours with Katatonia, Moonspell and Lacuna Coil and a direct supporting role for the Emperor reunion shows in New York City, but even at the beginning you can tell this is something special.

The three songs on Idle (setting aside the pair of piano interludes) are impressive not only for their perfect combination of melancholy and ferocity, but for how well they stack up against their European counterparts. Early Katatonia is the obvious comparison, but you can hear traces of early Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride (especially in original vocalist Guthrie Iddings’s anguished wail) in Daylight Dies’s sound. There’s also a melodic aspect to these songs that’s not too far removed from the Gothenburg melodic death metal bands. Everything – the melodies, the mournful tones, the sheer heaviness – comes together perfectly for an unforgettable experience.

Long since out of print (and commanding a hefty price on the secondary market), and never before released digitally, Idle is now available as a digital special edition. The album has been digitally remastered and features the original version of “In the Silence” (from their No Reply full-length) as a bonus track. The bonus track is interesting enough, but the completely stunning digital remastering is the real reason for those who already own a copy of Idle to check out this digital reissue. Daylight Dies fans that missed Idle the first time around are in for a real treat.

Genre: Doom Metal, Doom/Death

Band
Guthrie Iddings (v)
Barre Gambling (g) (b)
Jesse Haff (d)

Track Listing:
1. Unending Waves
2. Piano Interlude One
3. Forfeiture of Life
4. Piano Interlude Two
5. Stronger Days
6. In the Silence (Original Version) (bonus track)

Label: Divebomb Digital

Website: www.daylightdies.com

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.5/10