From: Metal Observer
Published: January 4, 2016
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When the Spanish atmospheric/funeral doom band Womb independently released their debut album back in May, Hypnotic Dirge Records and Solitude Productions decided to jointly reissue it. Their decision is good for us, as Deception through Your Lies is certainly worthy of a wider audience.

 

Womb has all of the aspects fans of funeral doom know and love: slow, plodding riffs, deep, guttural vocals, and a somber, funereal atmosphere. But Womb does mix it up a bit; they’re not quite as slow as many of their peers, they tend to write shorter songs (relatively speaking, the shortest track on the album is just over six minutes) and they have much more of an emphasis on melody than many funeral doom acts.

 

The emphasis on melody is apparent from the opening track, “Echoes of Our Scars,” which weaves a gentle, bleak piano melody into the rich guitar melodies, which recall My Dying Bride and Swallow the Sun. The latter also come to mind from the cavernous, pained vocals. “Echoes of Our Scars” alone is worth the price of admission, being both beautiful and miserable. It’s the standout track, although “March” and “Equidistant” are both solid as well. “Ends” and “Forgotten by Her Bliss,” the other two tracks, aren’t quite as good, although the latter does at least sport an excellent guitar melody.

 

Like most doom bands, Womb aims for a depressing, somber atmosphere and it’s on this front that Deception through Your Lies is most successful. This is a bleak album, despite the band’s injection of melody. It ranges from soft and introspective (“Echoes of Our Scars”) to totally despondent, as on “Equidistant.” These are melodies that sink in and don’t let go, giving the album the emotional depth necessary for good funeral doom. 

 

Deception through Your Lies has a flaw worth mentioning, and it concerns the production. It’s just a little too thin; an added bass presence would beef it up considerably. Why the bass is so absent is unclear, considering the toms and bass drum are certainly audible and in fact may be even be a little too upfront. The guttural vocals might also benefit from a greater bass presence.

 

Still, this minor issue aside it’s abundantly clear that Womb is a funeral doom band to watch for and Deception through Your Lies is a quality debut. Boasting some good songs with tasteful, dark melodies, Deception through Your Lies certainly shows potential and is highly recommended for fans of funeral doom and atmospheric metal. 

Rating: 7.5/10
Reviewed by: Nathan Hare