TRACK LISTING

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*Comments:

1.  Forever Never Fails
2.  Formlessness
3.  Absence of Contrast
4.  We All Fall
5.  Nothing/Everything
6.  Her Dress as a Poem,
     Her Death as the Night
7.  I am the Veil
8.  Cold Spring
9.  Rain

Total playing time: 43:45

Release Date: September 1, 2011
Label: ATMF Records

An Autumn for Crippled Children - Everything

Reviewer: Peter

August 25, 2011

When you think of the band An Autumn for Crippled Children, what is the first impression?  Many who come across this trio from the Netherlands would think of some core band that is heavily into all that is currently trendy in music.  So, it is something of a surprise that they are a depressive experimental doom/black metal band that takes its cues from bands such as Anathema and Alcest.  Though they already have an album out, it will be on their sophomore album Everything that more people will get to know the band.

An Autumn for Crippled Children (the band will be referred to as AAFCC for the rest of this review, for reference) actually takes its name from a song by an avant-garde Gothic/black metal band called Ebonylake (the actual title of the song was “An Autumn to Cripple Children”).  The music on Everything is actually really good, almost to the point of blatant A Natural Disaster-era Anathema worship, with strong emotions within the melodies.  The one major flaw on the album is the vocals, which on average volume without the headphones can be quite tough to figure out what is going on, particularly on songs such as “Forever Never Fails.”  At times, it hinders the overall compositions to the point of taking away from what is otherwise solid musicianship, as noted on “Cold Spring” and “Formlessness.”  Other highlights on the album include “Absence of Contrast” and the closing track “Rain,” both of which showcase the best of the music side of AAFCC’s repertoire.

AAFCC has a good thing going with their music, and as Everything indicates, they already seem to have everything in place for some level of success.  However, the one major flaw that could keep them back is the vocals, which despite the music, is just too much to ignore.  Everything’s rating is mostly due to the music, but if you can handle the vocals, do feel free to add a point.  As for me, the vocals simply take away too much from what is otherwise a solid effort from AAFCC.