Review by Rexorcist for Sear Bliss - The Haunting (1998)

I'm a bit surprised that I'll be the first one to review this album, considering that it was one of the creators who got me into this band.  Sear Bliss is known for changing things up about every album, and it typically pans out, even if the end results aren't always perfect.  In fact, some Sear Bliss albums are a bit samey when they focus on a singular sound.  Their debut album, Phantoms, was just like that, and there aren't many variations in Letters from the Edge or Glory and Perdition.  This album is completely different.  After the soaring Elysian vibes ruled their debut album, they took a completely different direction, one that's inches away from not being black metal, being dirty and traditional, and even featuring doom riffs.  Every song takes a different turn, but still bears the essentials needed for black metal.  However, songs like Soulless would rather be made up of part dungeon synth and part traditional doom metal.  The point is made as soon as the album's turned on, leaving an earthy texture in your brain.  The instrumentation is constantly impressive, boasting some of the band's healthiest melodies.  But there is one drawback in all of this: the voice doesn't always fit the melodies, and sometimes (though not most of the time), he feels like he's just there.  Hell, even the opener will probably tell you that, unfortunately.  Otherwise, this is one of Sear Bliss's most unique, least atmospheric and hardest hitting albums they've done.

97