Majestic Downfall - ...When Dead

By Kevin Page. If you have been paying attention the past few years, you'd understand why Donald Trump is not a fan of heavy metal. I mean, how can anyone say Mexico isn't sending us their best and brightest? He'd obviously recant this statement if he had heard Majestic Downfall's 2013 release, Three and last year's split with The Slow Death.

By Kevin Page.

Artwork by Robert Høyem

If you have been paying attention the past few years, you'd understand why Donald Trump is not a fan of heavy metal. I mean, how can anyone say Mexico isn't sending us their best and brightest? He'd obviously recant this statement if he had heard Majestic Downfall's 2013 release, Three and last year's split with The Slow Death. And on that note, what has the Mexican Metal Authority (you know, the MMA, that government agency who 'decides' what metal bands are allowed to release albums across the border) have in store for us in 2015? Well, yet another 50 plus minutes of Majestic Downfall goodness, of course.

Now I'm sure there have been other bands that have released 3 albums 3 years in a row, but I challenge you to come up with any that are the sole responsibility of 1 man, and of this high quality. Frankly, I'm astounded. As good as Three was, last year's split was by far the best thing the band has ever done. I stated in my review that "Dark Lullaby" off that album was one of the best metal songs in the past decade. So to say the bar was set insanely high this time around would be a gross understatement.

Have they topped themselves yet again? Maybe, time will tell as the year goes on and I have even more time with this album. What I can say though is we have a worthy follow up to the feel and quality of last year's release. Think of this in terms of a movie sequel, it's very difficult to eclipse the original; there's a natural ceiling to just how awesome and amazing something can be. But this isn't merely a carbon copy of their past material or trying to repeat prior glories, quite the contrary.

The first thing you'll notice is the production has a less polished and much more live feel to it. It's far from raw but I can't help but think this was deliberately planned to coincide with the bands first ever live performances this year. So on that note it's a rather nice tie in. By the time the intro (and title track) "...When Dead" and the lead track "Escape My Thoughts" is through, you feel almost musically satiated with its roller coaster of death metal, doom and atmosphere. Frankly it's amazing how you can make a 15 minute song this interesting. "The Brick, the Concrete" ups the ante even more and rivals last years "Dark Lullaby" as best song of the year material. The main guitar riff and that tone, the rumbling of the bass, topped off by a great old school heavy metal/rock infused guitar solo.

I could go on and on but I think you get the point. As a reviewer you can fall into the trap of becoming numb with the amount of music you hear each and every month. That's why I genuinely appreciate when an album comes along and demands you to take notice. It's always easy to pine away for the old days and claim things were better in the 80's and 90's; Majestic Downfall has proven that metal is ageless and that regardless of time period there are always bands creating exceptional material.

Majestic Downfall / The Slow Death - Split

Written by Kevin Page.


I'll admit to being biased when it comes to splits. I immediately think of "throwaway tracks" and bands just using it as a stopgap until their next full length. So when I heard that Majestic Downfall (viva la Mexico), who I very much enjoy, was doing a split with a band I never heard of, The Slow Death, I was curious, to say the least. Majestic Downfall just came out with a damn good full length album last year, Three. Were these leftover tracks not good enough to make the cut on that album? Majestic Downfall is the brainchild of Jacobo Cordova, how could one man have this much new material so soon? And this is a death/doom, not 60 seconds grindcore songs. So what gives?

Well, I'm ecstatic to be soooooo thoroughly wrong. These 3 songs and 35 minutes are quite simply the best thing Majestic Downfall have ever done. And out of the 100+ albums I've heard (so far) this year, its easily the best of the bunch. It has a little bit of everything: doom, death, grind, emotion, change of pace, peaks and valleys. Heck, even it's softer moments (when you can breathe) only help to accentuate it's overall brutality. It's masterfully written and beautifully put together. Everything sounds so good, lush and organic.

"Dark Lullaby" features the best riff Jacobo has ever come up with. Heavy, melodic and memorable. I never once felt cheated for it's 13 minute runtime. I especially love the fast section toward the end of the song before it turns back to the main riff and the delicate picking to finish things off. Overall the fastest and most uptempo of the songs here. It feels over almost too soon. How is that even possible? Best song of the year and best 13 minutes of the past decade. "Renata" is next, and follows in a similar vein. It's a bit doomier and more introspective (which I would expect for a song named after your oldest daughter). Not having the benefits of the lyrics, it feels like the trials and tribulations a father would go through raising a daughter. There's this sense of trying to keep going in the face of exhaustion. "Obsidian" is the final and doomiest track (probably most reminiscent of their prior material). Wonderful bass parts throughout this whole song. That uptempo riff at the end excites a positive riot in my brain. Also, I must praise the work done by Roberto Granados. His solos all over these 3 tunes are nothing short of bliss. Incredibly tasteful with a wonderful tone, I wouldn't change a single note.

As I mentioned before, this was my introduction to Australia's The Slow Death. So I had a proper frame of reference when writing this review, I went back and listened to their prior two full lengths albums. Unlike their partners in this split, The Slow Death are mired in almost a funeral death doom plow. Stylistically anyone familiar with their prior work will feel right at home with these 3 new tracks. The overall production might be a little cleaner, the female vocals more prominent, with a few more touches of gothicness as well. But don't fear, the ultra deep death growls remain and feel much more focused and striking. Even though there isn't really an ounce of "urgency" in their approach, this feels more immediate, like a band finally firing on all cylinders. I will admit, this took more time than usual to really sink into my cerebral cortex. At the end of the day though I'm glad I was fortunate to stumble across this band. They already have a new full length album in the works for later this year/early 2015.

In conclusion (how trite, I know), this is probably the easiest $6.99 purchase recommendation I can advise you to make. Heck, the Majestic Downfall tracks are worth that price all by itself. And if you're a fan of The Slow Death and never heard Majestic Downfall, that's a wonderful bonus as well. 67 minutes of music goodness awaits thee.

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