Shades of Deep Water - The Years On Borrowed Time

Shades of Deep Water is a funeral doom metal band from Finland, who formed in 2006. It's actually a one-man project/band from musician J.H. (In Depths of Winter, Sarajah) and “The Years On Borrowed Time” is the fifth full-length album under this moniker; three demos, three EPs, two compilations and a split have also been released.

I've been following this band for awhile now and it just gets better over time, becoming one of my favorites in the doom scene.

What I've always liked about the band, and an element that “The Years…” has a firm grasp on, is how well the songs are put together. Across the albums 4 song, 41 minute runtime, there isn't one moment where the songs get lost within their own sound. The album is, of course, slow but never plodding. Every second is used, nothing is wasted.

Atmosphere is as important to this album as the instruments and vocals. It's heavy as hell but it evokes a true feeling of sorrow and despair. This style of doom metal isn't supposed to be easy listening so I enjoy the harrowing nature. With that being said, the album is consistently engaging. When a band embraces their style and knows what it wants to do, it always shines through even with music as misanthropic as this. 

This is the most layered album yet in the project's discography. You can use your ears to peel back the many layers of each song—incredible depth.

The violin and guitars work together, a tragic meeting that results in something beautiful in its decay.

The title track puts the violin front and center in the opening moments. It's Gothic and majestic at the same time without being overly symphonic. The drums come in next, with the guitars not far behind. The way this song builds up is astonishing, a prime example of the depth I spoke of earlier. The death growls are equally as impressive—hauntingly brutal yet anguish ridden with the weight of the world upon them. From the 5:15 mark to the end, the song drowns the ears into a melancholic tapestry of stark tones but also a respect for the classic Gothic death/doom style of the 90s.

“Mare Septentrionale,” is a more immediate song with a ton of energy—yes doom, even funeral doom, can have energy. The melodic guitar sweeps through as the bass retains much heaviness. This song showcases how melodic the band can be, which is great because that's an aspect some funeral doom bands tend to avoid. This song embraces it but still retains its grasp on the void.

“Night and the River,” is a good title for the song because it flows very well but brings sorrow and darkness along with it. It's a slow but steady song, multiple listens bringing out the details that live within the notes. At the 6:30 mark, it fades out and enters a clean passage, a nice addition before going back to Gothic leanings.

The appropriately titled “Closure” is an epic 13 minute song that is among the best the band has done. I love the long intro, those layers once again building the song up. The crunchy riffs and pulsing bass make for a simple but effective path for the vocals to travel upon. The drums compliment the song very well, pushing the music down its path like a lumbering behemoth.

“The Years On Borrowed Time,” is a must listen for fans of melodic, Gothic or funeral doom. The album offers a lot of reasons to go back and explore further—this is an album that sticks with you. 

Rating: Excellent