Harvest - For the Souls We Have Lost Review
A Nostalgic Journey Through Gothic Doom
Metal enthusiasts, especially those with a penchant for the gothic doom genre, might find themselves drawn to the origins of the term 'nostalgia'. Derived from the ancient Greek, it combines 'nostos', meaning 'return home', and '-algia', signifying 'pain'. This etymology hints at the profound longing that drives the creation and consumption of contemporary metal. If you're yearning for the gothic doom metal of the 1990s, then 'For the Souls We Have Lost' by Harvest could be your ticket to musical home. This Italian quintet pays homage to bands like My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost, and Katatonia, aiming to evoke a unique fragrance with its debut album.
The album successfully captures the essence of its influences. At its core, Harvest presents barebones Sabbathian riffs, reminiscent of My Dying Bride's revival of Sabbath on 'The Angel and the Dark River'. Vocally, Emanuele's delivery mirrors Aaron Stainthorpe's style, seamlessly transitioning between clean and extreme registers. The interplay between Emanuele and guitarist Fabio Torresan is simple yet effective, blending gothy croons, Iommian phrases, and macabre growls, particularly on the track 'Floating Leaves'.
Matteo Gandolfi's contributions as a second guitarist and keyboardist add depth to the album's atmosphere. He introduces synthetic strings on 'Floating Leaves', choirs on 'Born Alone', and horns on 'Shining Moon', enriching the open production style of 'For the Souls We Have Lost'. These elements transport listeners to a 1997 graveyard poetry reading, with the soundtrack provided by Paradise Lost's Gothic and Katatonia's 'Brave Murder Day'.
However, the album's simplicity may be its Achilles' heel. The main riffs in 'Hunter of Souls' and 'Shining Moon' lack variation, becoming somewhat predictable. Additionally, the inclusion of clean or acoustic guitar breaks in the middle of most songs, a common doom metal technique, starts to feel formulaic. These sections also contribute to the dryness of the non-distorted guitar tones, which can be a letdown. For instance, the opener 'Born Alone' begins with a two-chord progression on a clean guitar, lacking character, before kicking into a heavier gear.
The vocals, while memorable in some instances, also present challenges. On the clean side, Emanuele's mid-range croon delivers satisfying hooks on tracks like 'Floating Leaves' and 'Hunter of Souls'. However, in other verses, such as 'In Shape of Beast', the melodic jumps don't mesh well with the supporting music. Similarly, the a cappella vocals in 'Shining Moon' waver instead of commanding attention. The inconsistency in vocal delivery across the album is a notable issue.
For fans of 90s gothic doom, 'For the Souls We Have Lost' is likely to be a comforting listen, offering a reasonable 37-minute runtime filled with tracks like 'Floating Leaves' and 'The Path of Life'. However, for those who find the subgenre more esoteric, the album's retro production and inconsistencies may hinder full immersion. Despite these minor drawbacks, Harvest has successfully captured the spirit of their influences, and it remains to be seen how their follow-up will shape their unique identity.
Rating: 2.0/5.0
Release Date: September 26th, 2025
Label: Octopus Rising Records (sub-label of Argonauta Records)
Websites:
- Bandcamp: harvest-doom.bandcamp.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/harvestdoom
This album is a journey through the nostalgic realms of gothic doom, offering a unique fragrance that may resonate with fans of the genre.
