Shores Of Null - The Loss of Beauty

Shores Of Null is a melodic death/doom band from Rome, Italy. They formed in 2013 and 'The Loss of Beauty' is their fourth full length album. 

This album was actually recorded back when their previous album, ‘Beyond The Shores (On Death And Dying)', was recorded between 2019 and 2020.  It was initially going to be their third full length but 'Beyond…' was chosen to be released first, as it better reflected the trying times of the pandemic.

'The Loss of Beauty' brings the band back to offering individuals songs and is much more melodic and dynamic than 'Beyond..' but the same melancholic sorrow still defines their sound.

The instrumental portion of the songs find that sweet spot between downtrodden doom and mid paced melodeath.  But sprinkled throughout the album are blackened elements and it gives the music just the right amount of edge. 

The drums and bass are one hell of foundation. They know exactly when to take a more melodic approach or take aggressive avenues. With either direction they go, it works. 

Davide Straccione's vocals are insanely good—he is one beast of a vocalist. This guy improves with each album and it fucking nails it on this one. A throaty yell, sorrow fills croon, death growls or blackened scream…the range and dynamics of his voice are truly special. 

The album opens with 'Transitory,' and it is a nice little intro that sets up the atmosphere well and leads into the first proper track 'Destination Woe.'

As with all the songs, the doom is strong but the urgency is also high---not a feeling usually gained with doom but the band pulls it off. The clean vocal passages are catchy, as is the melodic mid section. The growls and beautiful lead guitar work tie it all together.

'The Last Flower,' spent weeks in my head. The different vocal approaches and the flow of the music just had me hitting the repeat button dozens of times. I love how the song's tempo goes from doom to faster speeds at the drop of a hat without compromising the atmosphere. 

'Old Scars,' is another banger with urgent music and a blanket of doom laying on top of gloomy but still pretty melodies. The music and death growls work in tandem to keep the urgency flowing but that mid portion where Davide sings his ass off while the guitars work their magic nearly drove me to tears.  

'My Darkest Years,' is perhaps one of the most perfect songs I've heard from the band. It represents the themes and ideas of this album but also gives a stellar overview of the band's song. If someone unfamiliar with the band asked me to play a Shores song, it would probably be this one. The balance between vocal styles  spot on as are the gloom and doom laced melodies. 

'A New Death Is Born finishes the album strongly, the drums ramping up the energy early on to give the opening moments a hook ready to dig into your head. The main riff has a decent groove and rolls the song straight into the death growls. 

Their are moments of blackend speed and screams that sent shivers down my spine while seamlessly blending in with the doomier parts 

Shores of Null improves their craft in every way possible with 'The Loss of Beauty.'  Their songwriting is impeccable because it does something that other bands either struggle against or don't even try: create sorrowful, melonchlic doom that is also crackles and pops with catchy melodies and choruses.