My Dying Bride - Bring Me Victory (2009)^{Release ID: 957}

Two great covers make this EP worth checking out, but I'm sure they'll appear on some compilation down the track.

My Dying Bride have had no shortage of releases of late, with no less than nine (four studio albums, three compilations and two live albums) since the year 2000 alone. What we haven’t seen from the band for a long time though is an EP, which is why I was surprised to find this four track release scheduled for late 2009. Early in their career, the Brits recorded three very good EPs that not only filled the gap nicely between full lengths, but actually contained numerous great My Dying Bride moments that were not merely covers or variations of album tracks, but unreleased, original pieces of work. Bring Me Victory does not continue this tradition however, functioning more like a typical single, with two covers and a live recording to go along with the title track. Not being much of a fan of covers or live tracks, this didn’t bode well for me personally, which is why I’m so surprised at just how enjoyable this minor release actually is. It’s worth noting that this is the first time Shaun Macgowan (who is also part of death metal band Narcotic Death) has performed keyboard and violin for the band after Katie Stone departed to continue her studies (interestingly she still plays for British black metal band A Forest of Stars, but I can only assume that does not require the same level of commitment My Dying Bride demands).

The title track is one of the better tracks on the For Lies I Sire album and I really enjoy the pummelling drive of Dan Mullins’ drumming, which reminds me of the Der Überlebende from the misunderstood 34.788%...Complete release. The track stands out on the full length for its more direct nature and Aaron’s dual vocal performance which works really well when combined with Katie Stone’s violin flourishes. The most interesting parts of the Bring Me Victory EP however are unquestionably the covers. Scarborough Fair is a traditional English ballad which has been performed in various styles by literally hundreds of artists such as Sarah Brightman, Queensryche, Simon & Garfunkel and Leaves’ Eyes. It describes a young man requesting of his former lover that she complete a series of impossible tasks, such as making him a shirt without a seam and then washing it in a dry well. Only once she completes these tasks shall he take her back. My Dying Bride’s take on the tune is a worthy one and Aaron even added two additional verses of his own that really bring it into the doom-filled world the band inhabits. It’s a sorrowful tune with Macgowan’s violin reaching heights that Katie was simply not able to on For Lies I Sire (through no fault of her own I’ll add), while Aaron’s clean voice fits like a glove.

Even more successful is the cover of Swans’ classic Failure off their 1996 White Light from the Mouth of Infinity album. There are very few tunes more despondent than this one in any genre, and the members of My Dying Bride have stated many times how much of an influence the American post-punk outfit are on their sound. I’m sure they would have desperately wanted to do justice to Failure and I think they’ve absolutely achieved that goal. Once again Aaron’s vocals, this time not hiding his Yorkshire accent in the slightest, are perfect, nailing Michael Gira’s pessimistic sarcasm. After these two triumphant renditions, it’s rather off-putting to be subjected to a ten minute live performance (recorded at Graspop 2008) of the death doom filled Vast Choirs. It’s a decent recording of a fine early My Dying Bride track for sure, but given how vastly contrasting it is to everything else on this EP, its inclusion is perplexing. Finally there’s the impressive video for the title track, which is both disturbing and very professionally produced. There’s a horror movie feel to it with a Texas Chainsaw Massacre style family dinner causing a young boy no end of distress, while Aaron broods on his throne caressed by gorgeous women. My Dying Bride’s videos have not always been of a high quality, but this one is fantastic and a nice bonus to what is an already worthy EP.