A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH – INFERNUM IN TERRA

7/10.

Can there be such a thing as pop-doom? Well, A Pale Horse Named Death certainly makes a play for that term to be a real thing.

Stemming from Type O Negative you sort of get the more mainstream part of it all. But this is heavy, bleak, and happy at the same time. Kind of an oxymoron. I experience the music (especially the riffing, though it might not be happy chords, it is riffing that makes me happy) more towards a happy place. Tempo, lyrics, and the somewhat sluggish vocals makes it quite clear that this is not music made of overdosing happy pills.

The ambience is dark, but you feel that there is an updated take on the band and it´s music. It certainly drives more towards a melodic touch. Even if the lyrics deal with some darker themes and deal with loss, dark arts, and estrangement I still feel that the album has a positive vibe to it.

A song like “Two Headed Snake” that starts with a lead-heavy riff and vocalist Sal Abruscato singing from his toes makes you automatically turn into a bobblehead doll in ultra-slow-motion.  “Reflections of the Dead” provides Doom and more Doom. With all the elements that you require from a Doom song. “Lucifer´s Son” is another favorite that delivers weight and a sort of fuzzy feeling. Almost a bit of sludge in tempo in the verse put comes to live with a catchy chorus.

Something that draws the grade at least one step is that this album has an intro, an intermission, and an outro. We have eleven songs and three are not really showing to much point to them. 48 minutes would have been more rewarding than 54 for me. I can´t stand these pointless fellers of noise.

Returning to references you must put some Paradise Lost around One Second era there along with the obvious Type O Negative. Guitars and weight from Type O, Gothic and gloom from Paradise Lost. And that is a mix that does not turn out all that shabby.

In summary, This Pale Horse have taken a step forward in development. It is to my liking.

Band: A Pale Horse Named Death
Title: Infernum In Terra
Label: SPV/Long Branch
Date of release: 2021-09-24
Rate: 7/10
Stand out track(s): Two Headed Snake
Country Of Origin: USA
Playing time: 54 minutes