Mournful Gust - a well known Ukrainian group comes back with a new album after an eight-year break! The debut album was issued in 2000 on MC and has been rereleased on CD in 2005 by Soyuz/Metal Agen. Today the group comes back with the new material, combining such styles as: gothic metal, death/doom and elements of the European folk-music. The sated melodies are filled with parts of live flute. The voice of the vocalist (known from his work with Autumnia) transfers a rich palette of feelings and experiences, which have been put in pawn in the English-speaking lyrics, passing from clear singing, to growl. The addition of a 24 page booklet makes this disk a unique eye catcher with pit art.

ShapelessZine.com / 2008

I Mournful Gust sono un gruppo ucraino, nato dalle forze convergenti di alcuni membri dei Vae Solis e dei Temple Of Oblivion. Il primo dei due gruppi era dedito al black metal sinfonico, mentre il secondo suonava doom/death metal. L´anno di formazione dei Mournful Gust e il 1999.

"She´s My Grief" e il primo album pubblicato dalla band, uscito nel 2000 sotto l´egida della Metal Force in formato cassetta. Poco tempo dopo, uno dei membri fondatori ha lasciato il gruppo, dando vita ad un´instabilita che portera allo scioglimento nel 2001.

Nel 2004 i Mournful Gust si sono riformati, firmando un contratto con la Metal Agen Records/Soyuz che ha portato alla ristampa su CD di "She´s My Grief" nel 2005. Da quel momento, il gruppo non ha mai cessato di comporre ne di esibirsi sul palco, nonostante i tanti cambiamenti in formazione.

Nel 2006 e stato pubblicato l´EP di quattro tracce "The Frankness Eve", con l´intenzione di introdurre il full-length di prossima uscita.

E il secondo album del gruppo e stato pubblicato nel 2008, con il medesimo titolo dell´EP: "The Frankness Eve". Questa volta l´etichetta e la BadMoodMan Records/Solitude: una garanzia.

Dopo una storia tanto travagliata, i Mournful Gust sono tornati decisi a non ripetere gli errori del passato. E che sia un gruppo deciso e ben munito di idee, lo testimonia l´artwork stesso del CD e del libretto. Credo che sia uno dei piu belli che mi siano capitati fra le mani. La qualita grafica e stupefacente; i colori, il tratto dei disegni, lo stile delle fotografie sono malinconici e impeccabili, davvero spettacolari. Le facciate sono ventiquattro, tutte decorate in uno stile da vecchia fotografia. Ai testi vergati in corsivo si sovrappongono o fanno da sfondo immagini suggestive, piu che altro oggetti da interno, dal gusto retro. Le foto dei musicisti sono realizzate molto bene, e c´e anche una foto d´assieme. Note, ringraziamenti e tutto il resto non mancano. Bellissimo artwork, davvero, completato da una copertina che ci mostra una bella ragazza vestita in nero, con una vecchia casa sullo sfondo. L´artwork e stato realizzato da Vjacheslav Smishko: citare l´artista e d´obbligo.

L´album e stato registrato nello studio Autumnia tra il gennaio ed il dicembre del 2007. La formazione che ha partecipato alle registrazioni consiste in Vladislav Shahin (voce), Eugeny Vecher e Rojas Gaman (chitarre), SahO Maljovanj (basso), Stas Mischenko (tastiere) e Vjacheslav Rapusta (batteria). Come abbiamo visto, i musicisti provengono da Vae Solis e Temple Of Oblivion, ma non solo: si riscontano esperienze con Autumnia, Crystal Tears, Waiting Death e Requiem.

L´ospite August Devego suona il flauto in alcune tracce.

"The Frankness Eve" e un disco multiforme, che richiede parecchi ascolti per essere assimilato a dovere. Una cosa pero e evidente sin dall´inizio: i musicisti sono in possesso di una grande sensibilita, e sono dei maestri nel dar vita a sensazioni di malinconia e di nostalgia. A differenza di altre band accasate presso la Solitude, non ho ravvisato cadute nella disperazione o nella desolazione. Le atmosfere rimangono sospese nella mestizia, in una sensazione di groppo in gola che e difficile scacciare.

La musica e davvero espressiva, e in alcuni momenti tocca vertici di suggestione, dando vita ad atmosfere vagamente sognanti. Pero il lettore non deve dimenticare che ci troviamo di fronte ad un gruppo metal, quindi la potenza c´e, e quando esplode non teme rivali. Lo stile dei Mournful Gust ondeggia tra il doom e il gothic metal, dove il primo e da intendersi nella sua accezione piu ampia, spesso tendente al doom/death. E poi c´e la tecnica, ottima ma asservita alle canzoni e mai esibita. In questo senso, la musica dei Mournful Gust e influenzata dal prog. Anzi, in alcuni frangenti ci troviamo di fronte ad un vero e proprio prog metal rallentato, soprattutto quando Vladislav (o Vlad, com´e chiamato nel libretto) abbandona il growling a favore della voce pulita (cosa che tra l´altro fa di frequente). Le finezze prog si vedono nella ritmica, e nelle piccole/grandi complessita dell´arrangiamento. Nonche nella produzione e nell´esecuzione impeccabili.

C´e poi una componente folk/medivaleggiante, le cui melodie inconfondibili rendono gustose e particolari canzoni quali "To Your Deceits... Again", la lentissima ed evocativa "Honey For My Wounds" e parte di "With Every Suffering".

Il doom/death tradizionale e evidente nell´opener "A Pain To Rememeber", che alla fin fine risulta poco sorprendente. Meglio invece la voce pulita, strappalacrime di "From Illusions And Jealousy" (una delle canzoni piu belle) e "It´s Our Own Tragedy" (buona ma nulla di piu).

A riassumere lo stile dei Mournful Gust ci pensano "The Cold Solitude", bella ed appassionata, con un arrangiamento possente, eccessivo e stratificato, e la conclusiva "Recover Me In Sores", che non spicca rispetto ad altre.

L´alone di decadenza che si respira e dolce ed amaro, e non puo che catturare ed imprigionare gli ascoltatori piu sensibili. E´ anche vero che tanti suoni, tante variazioni, queste durate consistenti ma mai esagerate, possono confondere l´appassionato di questo genere musicale, abbagliandolo con la sua maestosita. E anche un artwork come quello del libretto potrebbe far perdere le coordinate giuste, dato il suo fascino.

I Mournful Gust sono un ottimo gruppo, che ha dato vita ad un album solido. Solido, e basta. A ben guardare, non aggiungono nulla alla scena, anche se lo fanno benissimo. E spesso, certi passaggi sanno di gia sentito, quando altre trovate sono decisamente geniali. Questo fa supporre che il nuovo corso degli ucraini sia solo all´inizio, e che a partire dal prossimo album potremmo trovarci di fronte ad un gruppo di altissimo livello, non solo tecnico e professionale, ma anche artistico. Io ci credo. Speriamo che i Mournful Gust non ci deludano!

(Hellvis - Novembre 2008)

Voto: 7.5

shapelesszine.com

Pavillon666.fr / 2008

Mournful Gust est un groupe Ukrainien form en 1999 et pratiquant un mlange de plusieurs styles: death, doom, gothique et folk. Bien qu´ayant 9 ans d´existence, le groupe n´a pas une trs grande discographie. Le premier album de celui-ci se nomme "She´s My Grief" et est sorti en 2000. Aprs six ans d´attente, Mournful Gust sort un EP intitul "The Frankness Eve" qui n´est en fait qu´une mise en bouche de leur futur album possdant le mme titre et que voici.

Un mlange de styles aussi opposs tel que le doom et le folk pourraient, s´ils taient mal mlangs, donner une infme bouillie sans queue ni tte. Or ce n´est pas le cas ici. La musique pratique par le groupe est tout fait plaisante l´oreille. Mournful Gust alterne parfaitement les parties death/doom avec quelques passages acoustiques, de la flte et du clavier. Le tout se marie trs bien et donne un ensemble homogne. Si cet album possde effectivement une touche death, force est de constater que celle-ci est extrmement mlodique: les harmonies plusieurs guitares sont lgions. Amateurs de brutalit passez votre chemin car il n´y a pas une once de violence sur "The Frankness Eve", mais plutt une grande souffrance qui, personnellement, ne m´a pas touch. De plus, la musique est majoritairement en mid-tempo ou lente. Point question de blast ici! Les meilleurs chansons de l´album sont pour moi : "A Pain To Remember", "From Illusions To Jealousy" et "The Cold Solitude" car elles refltent merveille la russite du mlange de plusieurs styles censs tre incompatibles les uns avec les autres.

Les musiciens possdent un niveau plutt correct, en particulier les guitaristes tant solistes que rythmiques. Le chanteur alterne voix death et voix claire. La production est assez bonne mme si la basse semble avoir t oublier au mixage. Le tout sonne trs death.

Bon comme vous pouvez vous en douter, cet album n´est pas parfait, loin de l.

Tout d´abord la voix claire: celle-ci n´est pas mauvaise mais elle sonne trop thtrale mon got. Le chanteur en rajoute beaucoup trop. Ensuite, on pourra reprocher l´ensemble de sonner parfois un peu trop mivre. En effet, les mlodies la guitare et la flte sont parfois un peu trop "gnangnan". Enfin on pourra tout de mme noter une certaine redondance au fil de l´album car les compositions possdent toutes leurs lots d´harmonies double ou triple guitares et de passages de flte. De plus le fait que l´album soit toujours en mid-tempo n´arrange pas les choses.

Au final "The Frankness Eve" est un album correct mlangeant avec habilet des styles opposs et proposant une musique rafraichissante et originale mais qui peut parfois sembler assez linaire du fait de la redondance des morceaux et du tempo quasi linaire tout au long de l´album. Mournful Gust sort ici un cd intressant mais qui ne marquera sans doute pas le petit monde du metal et encore moins le vaste univers de la musique.

NOTE GLOBALE 06.5 / 10

Aegis LE : 28 octobre 2008

pavillon666.fr

Live4Metal.com / 2008

I sympathise with the band name, chaps. Many is the time that my dog has been a bit too eager to chew on his denta-stix (tm), and let rip with a gust that has made me feel extremely mournful. Albeit I think that it is very unlikely that this Ukrainian outfit has named themselves over bouts of unheralded canine flatulence, the clue to the band is in the name C yes, it´s time for more ex-soviet bloc doom/death readers.

Luckily, of course, what seems to fly westwards from the exotic east always seems to be of high quality, and this release is no exception. In keeping with some of their peers, I again have to congratulate them for the quality of their presentation, as the CD and inlay are absolutely exquisite in both material and design. This care for the final product is mercifully also replicated in the music itself. While this may not ever stray too far from the beaten path worn by the likes of classic Anathema, early Paradise Lost and (especially) My Dying Bride, there are enough innovations here to elevate them from the main hum-drum of their rivals. Firstly, there are frequent quiet, almost acoustic passages which serve to provide some much-needed respite from the unbridled melancholy. There are also some passages of almost hysterically overwrought emotional male vocals alongside the usual Darren White-isms on display, but with such carefully structured atmosphere and gravity in the sound, it never seems to stray too much into the realms of comedy. The keyboards are really well done, and there are some sections that tentatively explore some almost folk-like feelings.

If I were to be frank (Castle, rather than Spencer), I would say that this isn´t ever going to set the world aflame with its staggering contribution to musical novelty, but then again being the first to do something isn´t always the goal now, is it? So sure, they retread some of the ground already well worn by their British forebears, but they do it with aplomb. I´ll say it again for you all; I would rather hear something well played and earnest than something contrived and novel. Mournful Gust know what they like, and perhaps more importantly they know what you will like: emotional, depressing doom played with taste and care. Let yourself go: sniff the gust.

Review by Chris Davison

live4metal.com

Zwaremetalen.com / 2008

Uit de Ukraїne komt dit zeskoppige gezelschap. De band is geboren in 1999 en heeft sindsdien een fikse lijst aan line-up wisselingen en periodes van stilte gekend. De band heeft echter altijd een mix van gothic en doom metal gemaakt.

Op The Frankness Eve laat de band een behoorlijk progressieve vorm hiervan horen waarbij ook de deathdoom en de folk invloeden niet vergeten mogen worden. Oude Paradise Lost en My Dying Bride en ook wat van de melodielijnen van een oude Haggard hoor ik er in terug. Sterke pion in het geheel is met name zanger Vladislav, deze man heeft naast een prima grunt een erg kenmerkende cleane stem, die erg geschoold klinkt. De beste man schuwt geen moeilijke toonladdertjes of lange uithalen, gelukkig maakt hij er geen overdreven virtuoos zelfgegeil van, maar weet hij met zijn stem een goede sfeer neer te zetten op dit album.

Muzikaal gezien weet de band enerzijds duidelijk een identiteit te kiezen maar anderzijds voor een goede dosis afwisseling te zorgen. De eerder genoemde genres komen en als mengsels van elkaar naar voren maar ook los van elkaar. Dit zorgt voor goede verbanden in en tussen de nummers en doet mij verbazen waarom deze band niet veel groter is, alle ingredinten voor een succesalbum zijn aanwezig. BadMoodMan Music heeft een erg goede zet gedaan met deze groep, hopelijk blijft de line-up nu dermate stabiel dat ze op de koers waar ze nu op zitten doorgaan en dat ze verder en verder buiten de landsgrenzen bekend gaan worden!

Gepost door: Jan Hendriksen

Score: 95/100

zwaremetalen.com

Imperiumi.net / 2008

Venajalla doom metal on kovassa huudossa, jos on uskominen Solitude Productionsin promosumaan. Valitettavaa kuitenkin se, etta itanaapurissamme ei vuolla kultaa tai keksita pyoraa uudelleen vaan kuljetaan liiankin totuttuja polkuja keskinkertaisuuden maisemissa.

Sielta loytaa itsensa Mournful Gustkin. Yhtye on valinnut tyylikseen goottisavytteisen doom/deathin, josta loytyvat ne tutut pianokuljetukset, huilut, kaksijakoiset laulusuoritukset ja siirapin lailla valuvat kitaraleadit. Myos Candlemassin perintoa viljellaan joissakin kohdin, mutta enemman The Frankness Eve nyyhkii nurkassa kuin julistaa tuhoa ja kuolemaa. Ei tamakaan genre kuitenkaan mitaan silkkaa myrkkya ole, jos asiat on hoidettu tyylitajulla ja tarpeeksi tunneperaisella asenteella, ja tassa Mournful Gust onnistuu tyydyttavasti. Musiikki vyoryy melodisella ja mahtipontisella tavalla, ja tuotannon puolesta loytyy voimaa ja nyansseja. Myos vierailevan artistin August Devegon huiluosuudet tuovat mukaan lampoa ja herkkyytta.

Suurin osa The Frankness Even kappaleista on kuitenkin sita keskitempoista ja helposti unohdettavaa huttua, jonka sinfoniapimputuskuorrutus ei auta yhtaan asiaa - painvastoin levy kuulostaa paikoin liian sokeroidulta ja omassa kultaisessa kurjuudessaan rypevalta. Tilannetta parantaa ainakin jollain tapaa yhtyeen pyrkimys saattaa musiikkinsa progempaan muotoon, mutta turhalta kiertelylta tamakin usein tuntuu.

The Frankness Eve nayttaytyykin loppujen lopuksi aika turhalta tekeleelta. Se on tehty kieltamatta ammattitaidolla ja tunteella, mutta kuulijalle jaa kateen vain epamaarainen motkyla hidastelua, riffikiemurtelua, viiden pennin melodioita ja pintakoreaa tuskistelua. Se ei ole paljoa doom metalissa.

Antti Klemi, 18.09.2008

Femforgacs´magazine / 2008

A Mournful Gust tortenete kozel 10 evre nyulik vissza, az ukran csapat ket masik romajin alakult nehany tag reinkarnacioja altal. Nem nevezhetoek kimondottan aktivnak, a 99-es bemutatkozo nagylemezuk ota csak egy EP szuletett, mely cimevel, a rajta szereplo dalokkal es kulsosegeinek koncepciojaval is egyezik jelen kritika targyaval, vagyis a The Frankness Eve-vel. Lassuk akkor, mivel tortek meg a 8 eves urt, milyen tortenet adnak elo az oszinteseg ejszakajan...

Mindenfele intro es egyeb sallang nelkul csapnak bele a hurokba a nyito A Pain to Remember cimu notaban. Az elso hangokbol mar tudni lehet, a megtevesztoen gotikus borito bizony csak hamis eloitelet: a zenekar doom/death metalt jatszik, afele My Dying Bride-os vonalon. Hegedu nincs, az enek javareszt horgos, a dalokat a melyre hangolt gitarok viszik. A szintetizator leginkabb az atvezeto reszeknel kerul elo, illetve nehany hattertemaval kellemes progressziv izt ad a zenenek. Az enek angol nyelvu, a halalrol, keserusegrol szolo szovegeket olvasgatva az igenyesen osszehozott, vastag bookletben az emberben bizony felmerul a gondolat, hogy nem a dal szuletesnapjara utal a 2006. junius 28-ai datum az A Pain to Remember szamcim alatt...

A dalszerkesztes is profi, kellokeppen valtozatosak, izgalmasak a szerzemenyek, fogosak a dallamok, konnyen bevesik magukat az ember emlekezetebe. Bar az alap gitartemak vegigkiserik a dalokat, a zene megis megunhatatlanul valtozatos, a visszatero, ismetlodo reszeket megtorik valamilyen uj zenei elemmel. A fentebb emlitett horgos eneken kivul Vladislav Shahin tiszta eneket is hasznal, mely pl. a With Every Suffering dalban epikus kontost is ad. Nehol elokerul egy fuvola, egy szintetizator felvezeto, vagy egy akusztikus resz, mint a The Cold Solitude elejen is, velemenyem szerint a legerosebb szerzemeny a lemezen.

Bar van nehany laposabb resz a bo 50 percben, es ezert nem kapott maximalis pontot, osszessegeben nagyon kellemes meglepetes az ukranok anyaga, batran ajanlom a hangulatos szorongas minden kedvelojenek.

rtkels: Pont: 9 / 10

femforgacs.hu

Metalglory.de / 2008

1999 formierten sich MOURNFUL GUST aus den berresten diverser Doom Bands aus der Ukraine. Bereits ein Jahr spter nahm man das Debt "She´s my Grief" auf Tape auf, um kurze Zeit spter auseinander zu brechen. 2004 startete man einen Neuanfang in dessen Zuge das Debt auch zu CD Ehren kam. Vier (oder eben acht) Jahre spter steht nun der Nachfolger "The Frankness Eve" in den CD-Regalen. Gut Doom will eben Weile haben...

...Im Falle von MOURNFUL GUST trifft dieser Spruch zu, wie die berhmte Faust aufs Auge. Die Band vereint auf sehr gekonnte Weise Death, Doom und Gothic Metal zu einer uerst gelungenen musikalischen Mischung.

Akzentuiert vorgetragene, intensive Riffs und getragene Keyboardsounds mit Hymnencharakter verschmelzen in den Songs zu einer perfekten Symbiose. MOURNFUL GUST nehemen den Hrer mit auf eine unglaublich intensive Reise voller Melancholie, Tristesse, Bitterkeit und Wut. So pendelt man dann auch stndig zwischen schleppenden Passagen und Death Attacken im schnelleren Tempobereich. Das man auch den Einsatz einer Flte nicht scheut, lsst die Songs nicht berladen wirken sondern sorgt fr zustzliche Abwechslung. Das Resultat sind acht sehr intensive, atmosphrische Doomperlen mit Gnsehautgarantie.

Das absolute Highlight auf "The Frankness Eve" ist aber der Gesang von Vladislav Shahin. Eine derart Emotionale Gesangsleistung habe ich seit Saviour Machine nicht mehr gehrt - Grandios! Da auch die tiefen Growls seiner Kehle entspringen kann man vor seiner Stimmbandleistung, die die eh schon groartige Musik letztlich mit den passenden Vocals veredelt, nur den Hut ziehen.

Anspieltipps:

To Your Deceits... Again, The Cold Solitude

Fazit: Mit "The Frankness Eve" haben die Ukrainer MOURNFUL GUST ein groes Werk geschaffen, das auf ganzer Linie berzeugt. Ein Intensives, Abwechslungsreiches und sehr melodische Doom Erlebnis das einen fesselt und nicht so schnell wieder los lsst. Groartig!

Kronosmortus.hu / 2008

The homeland of this band with a quite teling name is our neighbour, Ukraine, and the musical path they are walking is not specifically the most fashionable one, not that it´d count that much. Nevertheless, it´s a good thing when a band is not the next one of the newest trend but plays what they´re attracted to by their hearts. In this case, it´s Doom Metal with melancholic overtunes which can be named as Doom/Death due to the appearance of more extreme elements. It´s not the suicidal line (I´m saying this due to the high popularity of Funeral Doom/Black style), but, by and large, the path MY DYING BRIDE also walked with their first 2-3 albums.

The opening "A Pain to Remember" shows quite much resemblance to the Englishmen, both with its title and music. Later on, however, this thing vanishes into thin air to reappear here and there again but not in a significant way. Concerning vocals, they use more clean vocals, they use grunts only here and there where the lyrics/music reqiure that. By the way, they are not beginners, their first album came out in 2000 which I haven´t heard, unfortunately.

Their professionalism is unquestionable, their songs are good, and, what´s also good, the album does not turn into a bore. They always find how to incorporate interesting elements into the, in itself, not that varied style. I guess it´s really good that we can meet quality releases, even in 2008, that sound as if they had been recorded 10 yeras ago (meaning that there´s no "modern" influence here), and stand on their own feet. Guess that we can name this quality.

Pontszm 7.5

kronosmortus.hu

Original version:

Az eleg beszedes nevu zenekar hazaja a szomszedos Ukrajna, az altaluk bejart zenei ut pedig nem kimondottan a mai legdivatosabb, nem mintha ez barmit is szamitana. Annyit mindenesetre igen, hogy dicseretes dolog, ha egy zenekar nem az eppen legmenobb trend ujabb "jeleskedoje", hanem azt jatsszak, amihez a szivuk huzza oket. Jelen esetben ez melankolikus felhangokkal megaldott Doom Metal, amit az extremebb elemek felbukkanasa miatt Doom/Deathkent is aposztrofalhatunk. Nem a szuicid iranyvonalrol van szo (ezt a manapsag nagy nepszerusegnek orvendo Funeral Doom/Black vonal miatt mondom), bar nehol a hangvetel kisse gyaszos (ez pozitivum!), hanem mondjuk nagyjabol a regi (elso ket-harom album) MY DYING BRIDE altal is bejart osvenyrol. A hangulat talan nemileg "konnyedebb", ha nem is vidam.

A nyito "A Pain to Remember" mind cimeben, mind zenei megoldasaiban eroteljes hasonlatossagot mutat az angolok zenejevel, am kesobb a tulzott hasonlosag tovatunik, hogy nehol ismet felbukkanjon, nem tul jelentos mertekben. Vokal tekinteteben a dallamos enek van tulsulyban, itt-ott alkalmaznak csak horgest, ahol a zene/szoveg megkivanja. Nem kezdo zenekarrol van szo egyebkent, elso albumuk meg 2000-ben jott ki, amihez nem volt szerencsem.

Profizmusuk vitathatatlan, jol megirt dalokkal rukkoltak elo, es ami tovabbi pozitivum, nem fullad unalomba a lemez, mindig megtalaljak a modjat, hogy a relative nem tul valtozatos alapstilusba figyelemfelkelto dolgokat csempesszenek. Szerintem kimondottan jo dolog, ha most, 2008-ban is talalkozhatunk olyan minosegi lemezekkel, amik mondjuk olyanok, mintha mondjuk 10 evvel ezelott keszultek volna (ertem ez alatt, hogy semmi "modern", mai behatas nem erte a bandat), megis megalljak a labukat. Azt hiszem, ezt nevezzuk minosegnek.

Sputnikmusic.com / 2008

My initial thoughts of Mournful Gust´s The Frankness Eve were rather dubious. Naturally, having low expectations coming into the album may have influenced my afterthoughts, but I was duly impressed by what the death/doom band had to offer. Very much abiding by every cliche in the sub-genre´s book, the band still manages to keep a sense of individuality from amongst their peers. Nevertheless, as much as it starts off strongly, the album dips in quality in particular instances, seemingly becoming repetitive towards the second half. This is not so much a result of the band´s songwriting, which is far from bland, rather a slight excess of a good thing; the album drags on longer than it should.

Beginning with "A Pain to Remember", Mournful Gust make no mistakes. One of the better tracks on the album, the song immediately introduces us to vocalist Vladislav Shahin, the star of the show. As the song opens, Shahin lets loose a low growl, which sits very comfortably with the backing melody; an all too common thing on the album, and a significant factor behind its success. Furthermore, unlike other death/doom bands that rely on good gutturals to take our attention off terribly weak singing, Mournful Gust take pride in Shahin´s singing abilities. "It´s Our Own Tragedy", entirely void of growls, shows off Shahin´s grasp over his voice. Deep and sonorous, his voice has a commanding presence, making a fantastic song out of a musically weak track. This interplay between his growls and singing continues throughout the album, and provides for an enticing experience.

Mournful Gust rarely stray from the sound that they establish with "A Pain to Remember". Although becoming somewhat formulaic, the band sticks to it and do the best they can with what they have. In terms of songwriting, the band does not excel as much as one would hope; nevertheless, there is a feeling of authenticity emanating from the sextet. This can be seen through the various melodies that are found on the album; hailing from Ukraine, the band have allowed the influence of their home country´s traditional music to seep into The Frankness Eve. It remains subtle, yet gives the album an edge that makes it all the more appealing.

There is an inherent smoothness about Mournful Gust´s music; the production is lush, and the use of layered synths gives it a very uniform fluidity, only matched by the very best of death/doom. This comes with a downside however, in the fact that although being a consistent album, there were no moments which really sat me on my arse. Moments of brutality on Inborn Suffering´s Wordless Hope, or a desolate melody on Mourning Beloveth´s The Sullen Sulcus gave these albums an exciting touch, and kept me coming back for more. The Frankness Eve is relatively tame in comparison, but still manages to hold its own. For fans of Hanging Garden, Inborn Suffering and DOOM:VS.

metal1.info / 2008

Rein musikalisch betrachtet ist die Ukraine ein kurioses Land. Im Black Metal Untergrund treiben sich nmlich nicht nur ein Haufen brauner Bldbirnen herum, sondern auch die ein oder andere christliche Band, Holy Blood und Evroklidon lassen gren. Was sich bei den meisten Metal-Bands aus diesen Gefilden sehr deutlich abzeichnet ist aber oft ein Hang zu gro aufgezogenen Folk-Arrangements, mit denen oft alle mglichen und unmglichen Genres angereichert werden. So auch bei unseren heutigen Kandidaten, die sich zu keiner der oben genannten beiden Fraktionen zhlen, sondern ein Genre spielen, das in der Ukraine scheinbar Mangelware ist: Doomdeath. Genau meine Kragenweite. Dachte ich mir auch, als ich zum ersten Mal von MOURNFUL GUST hrte und ein Ohr in die Myspace-Samples riskierte. "Die Scheibe wird gekauft", schoss es mir da direkt durch den Kopf, aber das Schicksal hatte andere Plne und kaum eine Woche spter hatte ich eine promotionelle Version von "The Frankness Eve" auf dem Schreibtisch. Sachen gibt´s.

Egal wie, jetzt ist das Ding jedenfalls im Haus und will einer genaueren Prfung unterzogen werden. Erst mal uerlich. Und da macht die zweite Langrille der 1999 aus den Bands Temple of Oblivion und Vae Solis formierten Kapelle schon eine verdammt gute Figur. Das Coverartwork ziert nmlich ein ziemlich hbsches Frauenzimmer, auch noch schn in Sepia in Szene gesetzt, nicht bel. Das zieht sich auch weiterhin durch das restliche Booklet, hier werden stimmungsvolle, nostalgische Fotografien der Band gezeigt (Frontmann Vlad erinnert mich auf einigen Bilder irgendwie an Aragorn-Darsteller Viggo Mortensen), dazu alle Texte und die einzelnen Titel auch noch auf unterschiedlichste Art und Weise aufgemacht, fein fein. Die grte berraschung erwartete mich aber, als ich die Silberscheibe mal umdrehte und von unten in Augenschein nahm. Die Band (oder Plattenfirma?) hat wahrlich und wahrhaftig den ungenutzten Platz der CD utilisiert und darauf im Kreis mehrfach ihr Logo eingeprgt. Prinzipiell nutzlos, aber eine sehr coole Idee und beweit eindrucksvoll, dass MOURNFUL GUST keine halben Sachen machen.

Diese These lsst sich auch 1:1 auf die Musik des Sechsers aus Kryvyj Rig bertragen, denn der Opener "A Pain to Remember" (der brigens schon zwei Jahre zuvor auf einer EP erschien, die denselben Titel wie die Langrille trgt, da allerdings in einer krzeren, nur knapp viermintigen Fassung... hier bringt der Song es auf stolze 9:19) legt schon gut los. Versierte, stimmungsvolle Gitarrenarbeit, langsames aber akzentuiertes Drumming, Snger Vlad leistet auch groes, sei es sein finsteres Grunzen oder sein theatralischer Klargesang, hier passt alles. Fr Doom geht die Band auch berraschend flink zu Werke, die meisten Songs sind im Midtempo unterwegs, was der Eingngigkeit zugute kommt. Hier ist eher Easy-Listening angesagt, aber das bedeutet im Umkehrschluss nicht gleich, dass die Sache handwerklich eine eher simple Angelegenheit ist, das ist sie nmlich nicht. Wie gesagt, das Riffing ist sehr cool, Drummer Vjacheslav Kapusta hat ein gutes Ohr dafr, wann sein Einsatz gefragt ist und die Arrangements, die Tastendrcker Mischenko auspackt wissen auch zu gefallen.

Wie schon in der Einleitung erwhnt wird Folk hier hin und wieder gro geschrieben und das tut den Kompositionen von MOURNFUL GUST hrbar gut. In den ersten paar Tracks wird in dieser Hinsicht noch etwas auf Sparflamme gekocht, wenn man genau hinhrt kann man es schon erahnen, aber im Groen und Ganzen nehmen sich die Arrangements eigentlich eher wie eine Extraportion Bombast aus. Aber der Anfang von "To Your Deceits... Again" zeigt dann die eigentliche Marschrichtung an. Das Akustikgitarren-Geklimper hat ein bichen was von Dissection-Interludien wie "Into Infinite Obscurity", aber sptestens die einsetzende Flte versprht wahrlich naturmystische Atmosphre. Die steht MOURNFUL GUST brigens exzellent zu Gesicht, prinzipiell kurbeln sie nmlich sehr generischen Doomdeath herunter, teilweise zwar wirklich berauschend leichtfig, aber nichts absolut einzigartiges. Die Flteneinwrfe, die Fiedeln, die volkstmlichen Melodien und all das, die machen die Musik erst so gro.

Und gro, das ist sie wahrhaftig. "The Frankness Eve" ist ein wundervolles Album, dessen Atmosphre irgendwo zwischen lauen Sommernchten und windigen Herbstnachmittagen schwankt und die Theatralik der Kompositionen und die unterschwellige Hoffnung, die bei all den traurigen Melodien der Ukrainer anklingt, macht Lust darauf, selbst mit der Liebsten im Arm hinaus in die Wlder zu gehen und die Schnheit der Natur zu erkunden. Wie geschaffen fr Stunden zu zweit und auch alleine zum Abtauchen und Trumen eine wahnsinnig schne CD.

Bewertung: 9.5/10 Redakteur: Christian Heckmann

hardsounds.it / 2008

Dall´Ucraina un altro gruppo death/doom melodico e atmosferico sulla falsariga dei primi My Dying Bride. Gi cos potrei concludere la recensione perch avrei essenzialmente detto tutto.

I Mournful Gust arrivano alla seconda prova in studio per la Bad Mood Man (sub etichetta della Solitude Prod.) dopo l´album di debutto del 2006, e sebbene moltissimi problemi sono stati appianati (in primis la performance vocale del singer Vladislav Shahin) quello pi cronico no, cio la mancanza di indipendenza dai modelli a cui il gruppo si ispira.

Artwork e registrazione a dir la verit pi che buoni per un´etichetta ambiziosa ma dalle poche risorse, quello che mi dispiace di pi, il vero nocciolo della questione che "The Frankness Eve" si dimostra ancora troppo attaccato al cordone ombelicale dei primi MDB per poter brillare di luce propria e se in un album di debutto tutto sommato permesso quasi tutto, non lo alla seconda prova.

Mi sembra quindi strano a me per primo trovarmi di fronte ad un prodotto realizzato cos bene esternamente, ma forse un po´ vuoto internamente.

E al giorno d´oggi l´originalit tutto...

Recensore: Gabriele "Anaconda" Frontini

Voto: 69 /100

fobiazine.net / 2008

Vznik tto kapely se datuje k roku 1999 na Ukrajin, odkud tak vichni lenov pochzej. O rok pozdji vydvaj album "She´s My Grief" , kter je jet na kezatch. V roce 2005 kapela podepisuje smlouvu s Metal Agen Records a znovu vydajv "She´s My Grief", tentokrt ji na CD. Nyn spatilo svto svta album "The Frankness Eve" vychzejc pod hlavikou BadMoodMan Music. Doom metal, jak tahle kapela tvo si velmi pohrv s lidovmi motivy, kterch je na albu vce ne dost.

Prvn "nezovka" zan klasickm "hrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr", kter doprovz kytarov melodie lehce podpoen klvesami. Trochu mi pipomn skladbu My Love od Sins of Thy Beloved, ale ve se zhy mn a opt vechno spad do depresivnho rytmu. Po prvnch minutch jsem si kal, e skladba nem co dl nabdnout, avak m nsledujc minuty vyvedou z omylu a j jsem pjemn poten. Tato pse je pro mne tou nejlep na disku.

V dal stopi se objevuje fltna, kter tvorbu koen skoro ve vech skladbch a zpjemuje poslech a rychle se tak zarv pod ki. Folkov prvky z alba pmo sr, vechno je takov skromn a teskn. Zpvk spe pouv ist vokl, ne chraplk. Nedovedu si pedstavit lbiv folkov melodie s brutlnm chraplkem, kter pedvd v vodn skladb A Pain To Remember. Zde musm vyzvednout perfektn prci bubenka, kter je znt na celm albu. Hudebn je na tom kapela velmi dobe, npadit a podmaniv npady m dostvaj a j se s chut zaposlouchvm do kad skladby. Pravdou vak je to, e mi moc nesed nkdy a pehnan lidov melodie, kter celkem rychle omrz. Skladby A Pain To Remember, From Illusions And Jealousy a posledn Recover Me In Sores, pat k netvrdm a cel album tak zachrauj ped nudou. Kdy si vimneme jejich umstn v playlistu, je ve hned jasn...

Hodnocen autora: 7

Autor: Orbb

VoicesFromTheDarkside.de / 2008

I know for sure that there is only water between Sweden and Finland but nevertheless it´s un-avoidable to link MOURNFUL GUST musically just right between both countries. The Ukrainian band is playing melodic Doom Metal and this release is like a good bottle of wine, it´s becoming better day by day. If Holy Records would still be an international record company instead of concentrating on their French home country their second release "The Frankness Eve" would for sure be released by them because the band is perfectly fitting into their family. The 8 songs are full of interesting ideas; the music heavily supported by flute and piano and even after listening to the release for several times you can still find additional layers in each song. The singer can also add further emotions by switching between dark shouts and more a clearer voice. This release is reminding me of two great bands from the late 90s; on one hand the great debut of finish Doom kings YEARNING ("With Tragedies Adorned") and on the other hand one of the most underestimated Swedish bands EMBRACED. I know that currently the trend is more or less the ultra Doom direction but melancholy can have so many faces and Funeral Doom is limiting this music to its bare essence. Hope that due to the fact that the album had been released by a smaller Russian label it will get the deserved underground support because musically it´s premium Doom Metal.

Matthias Auch

Metal-District.de / november 2008

Und noch mehr Doomdeath aus der russischen Talentschmiede Solitude Productions bzw. deren Unterlabel Bad Mood Man Music. MOURNFUL GUST schimpft sich diese ukrainische Band und legt uns gerade nach dem 2000er Debtalbum ihre zweite volle CD vor.

Der Opener ist ein schn schwerflliger Klopfer mit einigen fantastischen Riffharmonien, grandiosem Gekotze voller Schmerz und ohnmchtiger Wut, der ber neun Minuten lang seinen Zauber entfaltet. Keyboards, tonnenschwere Gitarren, alles eben, was des Doomdeathers Herz begehrt. Auch Passagen mit Stakkatogitarren und Keyboards, die man so eher auf einer aktuelleren Progmetalscheibe erwartet htte. Nicht bel.

Schon "It´s our own tragedy" zeigt die Band dann von einer anderen Seite, entpuppt sich als ein Konglomerat aus Doommetal von hchster Emotionalitt und altem, sphrischem Gruftrock der getrageneren Art. Der Gesang besitzt eine schon fast ICED EARTH mssige Dramatik. Ich kann auch folkige Anklnge vernehmen, die gerade in den ruhigen Momenten des Stckes gut herausgearbeitet werden. Wohin wollen die Ukrainer hier mit uns?

Folkig und ruhig ist "To your deceits...again" im Anfang, wobei das folkige Melodienelement sich hartnckig hlt. Die nordische Khle, die hymnischen Leadgitarren, das majesttische Feeling des dahinwogenden Stckes, ich bin geneigt, an die "Tales from the thousand lakes" Gottheit der finnischen Ex Doomdeather AMORPHIS zu denken, die Parallelen sind offensichtlich. Aber MOURNFUL GUST machen ihrerseits eine sehr gute Figur und haben ein schnes Lied geschrieben mit grollendem Deathmetalgekotze und den herrlich gefhlsberfrachteten melodischen Vocals. Querfltenklnge bereichern das schne Stck noch weiter. Da 1994 ja bekanntlich lange vorbei ist und AMORPHIS inzwischen eher progressiven bis psychedelischen Hardrock spielen, knnen sich alte Fans, die noch immer den damaligen Kultscheiben hinterhertrauern, jetzt an diesem Stck laben.

MOURNFUL GUST haben erkannt wo der Hase luft. Gefhl ist das Stichwort. Diese Musik muss emotional sein, die Melodien mssen gro sein oder es darf sie gar nicht geben. So schwelgen die Ukrainer dann zuweilen in ppigen Harmonien, setzen zwischendurch aber auch auf dster - gruftige Slowdeathmomente, welche die Melodienseligkeit der Band geschickt kontrastieren, damit sich der geneigte Hrer nicht erdrckt, nicht in einem Bottich an Schnklang ersuft fhlt. Weder diese typischen Keyboardpianoklnge, noch die Synthieteppiche, noch Gothicpomp stren das wundervolle Bild. So schrecklich ich dieses Genre auch allgemein finde, es gibt Ausnahmen von gigantischer Qualitt und MOURNFUL GUST sind eine solche.

"From illusions to jealousy" knnte beinahe noch alten Progrock in sich tragen, ist auf jeden Fall wieder eine perfekte Mischung aus Gefhl, Dekadenz, Verspieltheit und Boshaftigkeit. Eingngig bis zum Erbrechen, aber auf gewisse Weise magenfreundlich. Vielleicht bin ich ja auch nur von der Heterosexualitt abgekehrt und stehe jetzt auf fluffigen Bombastsound, der sich mit schwerer Se wie von dunklem Honig auf die Sinne legt. Aber nein. Die meisten schuchteligen Bands dieser Sparte kann und will ich nicht anhren, auf den alten Gothicdeathdoom stand ich schon 1991 und gute Musik ist nun einmal gute Musik, mag mich der COTD steinigen, vierteilen, meine berreste vergewaltigen und dann an die Schweine und Straenkter verfttern. Ich stehe voll zu meiner Meinung ber dieses Album.

Lordsofmetal.nl / october 2008

Mournful Gust is a six headed band from the Ukraine. It´s a band which, with the first weeping sounds, is totally My Dying Bride inspired. It´s easy to compare them to the English gods, but with these keyboards and violins it´s just too obvious. Consider it however a well earned compliment, especially since I consider the vocals stronger and less whining as in My Dying Bride.

Mournful Gust delivers their second CD "The Frankness Eve" after more than eight years after the debut was released. The fifty minutes of English doom school is tasty though. The compositions are strong, melodic, varied and the sphere is tragic, desperate, fairy like, knightly and folky. The keyboards are a bit too much in the front pushing the drums too much to the back and that shamefully takes away the bombastic element. Flute player August Devego has to be mentioned for a great contribution to the CD because his tunes lift the CD up. Just listen to "To Your Deceit... Again" where the flute creates a Dark Age sound/feeling. The beautiful model Julia Oskina features on the cover, as she did on the CD re-release of the in 2000 released MC debut "She´s My Grief" in 2005. A mysterious lady to complete the whole package deal of a band to be acquainted to.

Erik stigmatizes this release with: 82/100

lordsofmetal.nl

Metal.de / may 2008

Wieder mal was Dsteres aus dem Osten, dieses Mal haben wir es mit den 1999 gegrndeten Ukrainern MOURNFUL GUST zu tun. 2000 kam ihr Debtalbum "She´s My Grief" als MC auf den Markt (die CD-Version kam erst 2005), zwei Jahre spter brach die Band auseinander, um 2004 einen Neuanfang zu wagen. Soviel erstmal zu den Eckdaten.

Doch wie klingen denn nun MOURNFUL GUST? Nun, sehr britisch, wrde ich mal sagen. Die Band mischt Death/Doom mit Gothic Metal und bewegt sich hier und da ganz schn in bewhrter MY DYING BRIDE Nhe, wobei auch die alten Werke von PARADISE LOST hrbar ihre Spuren hinterlassen haben. Tja, und wer sich beim Cover nicht an das Debtalbum von BLACK SABBATH erinnert fhlt, ist hier sowieso falsch. Musikalisch haben die Ukrainer aber mit der Wurzel allen bels kaum etwas gemeinsam, abgesehen vielleicht von den zhen, prgnanten Riffs. Hervorragende, tieftraurige, melancholische, sehr intensive Leads und Soli sowie dsteres Riffing dominieren die ausdrucksstarken Hymnen. Das Tempo zeigt sich recht variabel, zwischen schleppend bis hin zu Uptempo pendeln die einzelnen Stcke. Durch die Verwendung folkloristischer Melodien, teilweise vorgetragen von einer Flte, und das akzentuierte Keyboardspiel fhlt man sich manches Mal auch an ltere AMORPHIS erinnert. Der emotionsgeladene Gesang zeigt sich ebenfalls ziemlich variabel, sowohl klar klagend als auch finster growlend berzeugt Vlad Shahin. Die Stcke zeichnen sich durch hohe Spannung, dichte Atmosphre und epische Dramatik aus. Verfeinert werden diese noch durch einige akustische Gitarrenpassagen, treibend sgende Riffs und Pianoklnge.

MOURNFUL GUST bieten auf "The Frankness Eve" sehr abwechslungsreichen, hchst melodischen und auch recht innovativen Doom Metal auf sehr hohem Level. Ein wundervolles, ergreifendes, bitterses Kleinod. Beeindruckend!

Punkte: 8/10

(Endres / 28.09.2008)

metal.de

True Metal / may 2008

Mournful Gust is a doom metal band, existing since 1999. "The Frankness Eve" is the second album from the band which was released in CD format. The very first record "She´s My Grief" was available only in MC format in 2000. Before that some of the band members were part of the well known russian sympho-black band Vae Solis, but after leaving this project Mournful Gust was born following much more melodic, slower and doom-like metal style. Musicians choise to join doom metal was surely the right decision because it is worth to listen to their creations - this music is beautiful in all means. Perfectly made depressing atmosphere, different kinds of riffs, which are tied together with acustic changes, stressed solos, supplying keyboards - this wonderful composition is what Mournful Gust new album gives. One can find some elements of folk, which makes the whole thing even more unique. I suggest this album to everyone who likes melancholy and endless melodic suites. It is worth to hang on to this atmosphere.

Reviewed by: Kaspars

Mournful Gust ir doom metal grupa, pastaavosa no 1999. gada, "The Frankness Eve" ir otrais grupas albums CD formata, pats pirmais ieraksts "She´s My Grief" tika izdots tikai MC formata 2000. gada. Pirms tam dazi sis grupas dalibnieki piedalijas Krievija labi zinama sympho-black metal grupa Vae Solis, bet pec atdalisanas no si kolektiva, nodibinaja Mournful Gust un pieversas daudz lenakajam, melodiskakajam doom metal stilam. So muziku izvele pievienoties doom metal, klausoties so albumu, noteikti ir bijusi pareiza, jo Mourful Gust raditajas skanas ir verts ieklausities - si muzika ir skaista visas si varda nozimes. Perfekti veidota depresiva noskana, daudveidigu rifu kopums, kas perfekti savits ar melodiskam gitaru pasazam, akustiskam iespelem, akcentetam solopartijam un gan nikni rucosiem, gan melodiski dziedosiem vokaliem, atmosferu paspilgtinosiem tautininstrumentiem - viss sis kompozicionalais brinums ir Mournful Gust jaunais albums. Muzika var just ari folkmuzikas iezimes, kas padara so doom metal meistardarbu vel interesantaku. Iesaku visiem, kam patik melanholija un nebeidzamas melodiskas muzikas svitas. Ir ta verts pakaveties Mournful Gust noskanas.

Kaspars

adilade.com / 2008

Mournful Gust est un groupe ukrainien officiant dans un style proche de My Dying Bride, avec quelques influences gothic a la Tristania. L´album de 7 titres apporte melancolie et tristesse sur fond de doom agremente de violon et de voix feminine et grave. Sans etre original, "She´s My Grief" tient la route.

Maelstrom.nu (web-zine #54) / 2007

Mournful Gust will disarm any criticism straight away by openly saying that their music is based on My Dying Bride and Tristania. Those Ukrainians. Don´t they know that originality is the art of disguising the sources?

Come to think of it, why not? As opposed to another copycat band reviewed for this issue, as much as Mournful Gust may want to sound like My Dying Bride, they don´t blatantly copy them.

Originally released in 2000, She´s My Grief does sound dated. Probably because of lack of money, the sound is only of a demo quality. But still the overall impression is a charming one, and the experience brings back memories of a childhood spent listening to cassettes of unknown bands. It makes us wonder what Mournful Gust felt like in those days. And yes, it´s just like it should be.

As the title suggests, She´s My Grief is an attempt at classic, romantic doom metal. Though the (fairly literate) lyrics are heavily inspired by My Dying Bride, there´s a certain honesty to them. Let´s put it this way - normally, they would make some sense, but if you´ve ever been struck heavily by hopeless love (why are the promos for this issue so personal, ha? Roberto?) they make perfect sense. And that´s where the rest of the music fits right in. It´s not perfect, it´s not original but it´s here when you need it. Sad, melancholic, but with perfectly timed moments of storming despair (like on "I Saw Her Sad Eyes"), it is a fitting potpourri for the quiet, lonesome nights when you´re sitting in your dark room, wishing you were a child again. A child that doesn´t know what the outside world is like and listens to the music on an old, broken stereo, wondering if it will be like that when he falls in love someday.

Okay, enough talking about love in an underground extreme metal webzine. What deserves to be mentioned are virtuoso guitars and the tasteful use of sopranos and female vocals along with growls and clean baritones. The keyboards, flute and a violin occasionally enter to add some romantic melancholy... oh, here we go again. While we´re at that, did we mention a fantastic moment of resignation in "And We Shall Die Together"? The music is complex enough to provide a number of those moments, and the others, successful or not, don´t ever become tiresome, if you´re in the right mood.

It´s all about the timing. Depending on it, She´s My Grief can either be an average exercise in romantic doom, or a perfect melodic theme for a moment of desperate clarity. A moment you never wished for to happen, but it did.

(7.4/10) review by: Mladen Skot

the-morning-never-came.blogspot.com / 2007

Un desconocido grupo ucraniano que hace un romantico Doom con pinceladas goticas, junto a la base Doom con voz gutural tenemos voces narradas, voz femenina, muchos teclados y algo de flauta y violin. Con esa descripcion es facil imaginar algo similar a los Lacrimas Profundere antiguos, y no es erroneo precisamente; no tienen el gran nivel de dicho grupo aleman, pero no se quedan atras y pueden sorprender con su proximo disco.

Metalchannel.net / 2007

Mournful Gust ist eine Black Metal Band, welche mich vor kurzem personlich kontaktierte, damit ich deren Album mal anhore und eventuell ein Review daruber schreibe. Erst dachte ich, es handle sich hier um eine zwielichtige Band die absolut sinnlosen Black Metal produziert. Doch da habe ich weit gefehlt. Mournful Gust produzieren wie es der Bandname schon zum Ausdruck bringt traurig-melancholischen Black Metal. Mournful Gust, die "Traurige Wind Boe". Songs wie "Path of My Tears" oder "First Spring without you" sind enorm ausdrucksstark. Textlich leistet die Band geniale Arbeit, wobei ich auch denke, dass die Lyrik zum Teil auf wahren Begebenheiten basieren. Auch klanglich kann man den Black Metal nicht genau definieren. Der Gitarrist spielt nur einfache hintergrundige Riffs nebst hoch gestimmten tragen Soli. Wusste ich es nicht besser, wurde ich dieser Band eher Doom Metal zuweisen. Das Drumming ist auch sehr langsam. Das Hi-Hat wird zumeist mit der 8-fachen Geschwindigkeit der restlichen Gerate gespielt, und dies in meist sehr speziellen Takten. Auch die Keyboard und Spezialeinlagen geben der Musik weitere Abwechslung. Man hore sich hier zum Beispiel den epischen Mittelteil von "As a Wingless Bird" an. Der Gesang ist meistens sehr leise und krachzend, sodass man meist die Songtexte konsultieren muss um etwas zu verstehen. Das liegt aber nicht am Sanger selbst, sondern eher an der eigentlich doch recht miserablen Qualitat der Aufnahmen. Fur Leute die auf eher tragen und eindrucklichen sowie traurigen Black Metal stehen, ist diese Scheibe echt keine schlechte Wahl. Allerdings gibt es sie nirgends zu kaufen. Dafur wird sie auf der offiziellen Website von Mournful Gust zum Download angeboten.

Michael Sebel

Wertung: 7.5 / 10 Punkten

P.S. Well i know "black metal" is surely not the right word for mournful gust. I didn´t knew the band and so i began to gather information, and i often read, that mournful gust shall be a "Black metal" band. but seriously, for me it´s more doom than black. However, those genres make me crazy one day. i hope it doesn´t bother you, that i call it a black metal band in the review!

Greets, Michael

Vampire-magazine.com / 2007

This album was recorded and released on cassette in 2000, and after a break re-released in 2005 on CD. On this album Mournful Gust brings forth a kind of doom inspired by British acts such as My Dying Bride, yet in a "light" version... Extra accents are put into the music by using instruments such as piano, violin, flute and a classical female voice, but the necessary heaviness is missing on this debut. It is rather "flat" to impress the average doom fan.

The accents give a more frivol approach towards the music; the ideas in itself are not so bad, it is just that is rather light for doom. Furthermore it is clear that the recordings were too soon; the band had been together for too short a time. To put it in the words of one of the song titles: "As A Wingless Bird".

At the moment the band is working on a new album, called "The Frankness Eve". Some fragments of that can already be found at the band´s website, and it is clear that they have grown since their debut: the music is heavier, and finally contains some dynamic heaviness: especially "A Pain To Remember" is a good example of that new effort.

Written by Neithan

Encomium´zine Issue #3, December 2001

MOURNFUL GUST is a new and promising name in the Ukrainian underground scene. It features Vladislav Shahin on vocals (he sings in Black Metal act, VAE SOLIS, as well), Alexander Glavniy on lead guitar, Evgeniy Vecher on rhythm guitar (ex-TEMPLE OF OBLIVION), Evgeniy Kozlovskiy on bass, Artem Lygun on keyboards and Vjacheslav Kapusta on drums (ex-TEMPLE OF OBLIVION). "She´s My Grief" represents 7 brilliant songs of melodic and yet emotional Doom Metal. Sorrowful guitar passages and majestic keyboards tunes filled up with a wide range of vocals that were, by the way, precisely worked out are the so-called trademarks of MOURNFUL GUST. It´s not a typical Doom stuff to be honest, ´cause 4 session musicians helped them out with the enchanting sounds of soprano, violin and flute. I know (on the other side) that these things are indeed the usual and basic elements of nowadays Doom Metal scene. Nevertheless, it is something else I would say superior! The remarkable sound quality speaks for itself and shows a serious musicianship, no doubt! Preferred tracks: "Path Of My Tears" and "As A Wingless Bird".

Cornelius, Encomium´zine Issue #3, December 2001

Interview for Maelstrom´zine Issue 56

interview by: Mladen Skot

One of the pleasures of this "job" is in discovering brilliant new bands. Even better if they are from somewhere you´d last expect. One of the recent examples is Mournful Gust, a romantic doom metal band from Ukraine, a land known for everything but bands of this kind. Musically, they can hold their own against any similar band, anywhere, though a band from a Western country, even half this good, would have been signed by now. Although Mournful Gust aren´t exactly new, right now they are at their new beginning. We exchanged a few e-mails with their vocalist, Vladislav Shahin, to see what´s happening.

Maelstrom: How are the things with The Frankness Eve going? Is the recording complete, and where will it be mixed and mastered? The promotional tracks sound good enough, will there be any significant difference in the sound?

Vladislav Shahin (below): Our second album, The Frankness Eve, is written down already, practically. The mixing and mastering will be done by Alexander Glavnyj, my colleague from Autumnia, in his own studio. Songs on the album sound much better than those demos-tracks which are accessible for downloading on our site. They have little bit another arrangements and essentially differ in the quality of recording.

Maelstrom: Your clean vocals show great improvement. Have you been taking vocal lessons?

Vladislav Shahin: Thanks for a positive opinion for my voice. I shall dare many to disappoint, but I never took vocal lessons. Probably I can be mistaken, but someone´s opinion on correctness or abnormality of voice training could deprive with me individual opinion. More instincts, more honesty and frankness.

Maelstrom: She´s My Grief was released way back in 2000. What has been happening with Mournful Gust since then? What kept you going?

Vladislav Shahin: After the realization of our album on MC in 2000, we gave a line of concerts in Ukraine and Belarus. At the end of 2001, the guitar player and composer Alexander Glavnyj left the group and we lost the ground under our feet. We experimented too much, therefore we stopped to be engaged in Mournful Gust. In 2004, we renewed functionality of our chapel, after a year our debut album was republished on CD, thus, we are alive on present time.

Maelstrom: What is Glavnyj doing now? And what is the difference in Mournful Gust´s approach to songwriting now, without him, and then?

Vladislav Shahin: Now I have with him own project, Autumnia where together we have written down two albums. The present composer in Mournful Gust now is Eugeny Vecher, the guitar player of original line-up. Arrangements, as always, we make together. As to experience of the composition - it is natural, we develop, also you can notice it, it will be enough to hear our second album.

Maelstrom: I always wanted to ask someone from Ukraine this: I sometimes watch the Eurosong contest, and one year Ukraine won (Ruslana - "Wild Dance"). Now, in the beginning of her song there was a trumpet melody. The same melody is in the beginning of Nokturnal Mortum´s NeChrist CD. What is that melody? You could imagine my surprise when "Wild Dance" started with it.

Vladislav Shahin: To Mournful Gust this moment has no any relation, but I can answer. It is the most usual melody from side of Carpathian mountains in the West of Ukraine. We are live in east part of Ukraine and we´re far from those traditions. Very big territory and everywhere dominates over us the ethnos.

Maelstrom: What are Mournful Gust´s views on religion? Is that a Christian cross in your logo? I find it strange because you used to sing in a black metal band before.

Vladislav Shahin: We play music, but we are not engaged in division of personal sights of each of us concerning the world of alive ones. In the old logo of Mournful Gust, there was something similar to the crucifixion. In photo session to a new album you will see some images of the Christ, but, I hope, you will draw correct conclusions. We are not the religious group, we do not preach Christianity... And our fans know it, opinions of the others do not especially interest us.
Yes, I sang in black metal group Vae Solis, but it is perfect other history...

Maelstrom: How often do you play live? Apart from your hometown of Krivoy Rog, where else have you played, and are there any interesting stories you could tell us?

Vladislav Shahin: Actually, in our native city we´re not often visitors by way of concerts. We play there where we are invited. In Ukraine we are not popular. Here (the audience) do not like sad music. Interesting stories? I too seriously concern to our concerts, therefore any comedy stories do not occur. Probably, we have no image of group with interesting stories, sorry.

Maelstrom: Ukraine is not a very rich country, it seems. Was it hard for your band members to get all the equipment, instruments etc? It was like that in Croatia but now we have music shops in every bigger city.

Vladislav Shahin: I have the big request to not answer this question. For me it is a sick subject. This question provokes me for inadequate statements.

Maelstrom: What do members of Mournful Gust do in their regular lives? Does any of you have an interesting job or a hobby?

Vladislav Shahin: We´re mere mortals, no anything unusual. And all of us are still alive for that what you did not count us the insignificant country... Mournful Gust it not professional group. We do not earn on our music.

Maelstrom: How did you decide to play romantic doom metal? What influenced you to play dark love songs? Love is not very often a subject in metal.

Vladislav Shahin: So has left... We are dead, also all that surrounds us... Too. I never used a word "love" in the lyrics... Who is from you considers that it exists?

Maelstrom: No, you never use the word "love" and that´s very honest. Only "cheap" bands would use it. But you have chosen to express your feelings of pointlessness through singing about doomed relationships. Someone else would sing about the same despair but using something else as a metaphor. Why have you chosen this way?

Vladislav Shahin: I am meaning to avoid this word. Probably, I manage to hide behind metaphors. Probably someone sees me through my words. I try to deceive myself and it that will not allow me to open my answer completely.

Maelstrom: You say that we are all dead - I agree. What gives you will to live? What meaning does the life have for you? What keeps you going on?

Vladislav Shahin: Probably some things hold us in embraces of this world: music, sincere and heavy metal music... Hope... Expectation, night touches ... Such close and such far...

Maelstrom: Have you ever considered suicide? How do you imagine your own death?

Vladislav Shahin: No, I try to never think of similar things. All happen by itself and it isn´t necessary to fill own head with ideas of own funeral.

Maelstrom: How are the relations between metal bands in Ukraine? Do they support each other or see each other as competition? In Croatia, sometimes, noone does anything because noone wants to help the other band.

Vladislav Shahin: I don´t see significant distinctions between our stages. There are moments when bands help each other. There are bands going in loneliness by their own road. I never met a rage between Ukrainian bands. We with a pleasure divide a stage during performances. If a question mention about Mournful Gust - we´re not competitors because, practically, we´re unique in similar style of metal, but, not looking on it, our primary audience are fans of doom/death metal and gothic music. Basically each band worries about the positions. During present time it´s inevitability because our stage grows, bands becomes more and more...

Maelstrom: What are your favorite bands right now? What do you listen to in your free time?

Vladislav Shahin: I cannot tell that I have any certain bands in my favorites. Today this band has given a masterpiece, but tomorrow I cannot hear even two songs from a new album. I listen a lot of metal music. Yes, it´s only metal. I don´t listen to anything else. It´s classical death metal or modern grindcore - acts more often... cyber black metal or instrumental guitar hard rock, and, of course, gothic/doom metal, intolerable melancholy and music of loneliness.

Maelstrom: Is it hard to get new music in your part of Ukraine? How do you get CDs? Here we mostly trade mp3 discs or download, for instance.

Vladislav Shahin: In Ukraine there are no problems for purchase CDs. The license network is very strongly advanced. I can quite easily buy any album for a reasonable price. And all quite officially. In piracy disks are no more traded, at least, as 10 years ago. Certainly, the most part of listeners are content with mp3-disks and downloading from the Internet.

Maelstrom: How popular is metal, in general, where you live? And how do you deal with people who don´t understand you or metal?

Vladislav Shahin: Unfortunately (can be fortunately?) metal music wasn´t popular as at the end of the ´80s and beginning of the ´90s. I think it is similar everywhere. Yes, in a circle of my dialogue there are people who are not in metal, but they do not have an affair up to that which I listen and I play. However, I listen to metal since 1988 and for me it is all the same what someone who doesn´t understand metal will think of me.

Maelstrom: What is your earliest memory about music?

Vladislav Shahin: I liked to sit near a LP-player, I was closed in a room alone, considered an envelope, a cover, photos of musicians, titles of songs. I liked to listen to a radio receiver, a crash dynamics, hissing of radiowaves. Something filled me and it stayed in me till now.

Maelstrom: How many record labels have you contacted so far? Do they all give response, or do some just ignore you? I´m asking because I´ll be in a similar situation soon. Do you have any advice?

Vladislav Shahin: I believe in that any musical product will find the publisher and the auditory, the main thing is to hold activity in distribution of a message about the band. I till now make weight of dispatches in addresses of labels. Yes, the situation is those: Were interested, is ignoring. There are serious sights and desires to estimate a ready album. My advice is simple: to be active and to have belief in your own music.