Darkness, future or dark future? - A review of Deathwhite's For a Black Tomorrow

Deathwhite is a quite unusual band. Not because the identities of the members remain a mystery since this has become quite trendy in the metal scene as we speak. No, the band's sound is actually quite intriguing. It sounds like a mixture of alternative rock, gothic rock and post-metal. Imagine the vocal lines of Alter Bridge that seem to be performed by an emotive teenager, the numbing riffs of Katatonia and a few atmospheric breaks and acoustic passages in the key of Opeth and you have a quite good idea what For a Black Tomorrow sounds like. The moody cover artwork is also a solid indicator for the type of music offered here.

This unique combination of styles lets the band stand out and is Deathwhite's biggest advantage. The different genre elements blend in surprisingly well from an objective point of view even though the emotive vocals really aren't my cup of tea. The big question is who is going to listen to such an album. Alternative rock fans might find the record too repetitive and depressive, gothics will find some of the melodies too catchy and direct and post-metal supporters might complain about the somewhat streamlined songwriting, the lack of heaviness and the short lengths of the different tracks. Deathwhite's particular style could kick off a whole new sub-genre because of its creativity but it could also implode by its sheer weirdness. The album title almost seems to reference this thin line as if the band weren't sure whether tomorrow will come or whether it will all drown in darkness anyway. It might actually be something in between.

Listening to Deathwhite's For a Black Tomorrow is certainly an intriguing experience. You need to be ready to think outside the box to find an emotional connection to this release that mixes alternative rock, gothic rock and post-metal elements. If you like some depressive rock music for a rainy autumn afternoon, this album delivers the perfect soundtrack for you. Even the production manages to sound grey and unremarkable. This album unfolds its potential in such particular situations but is otherwise somewhat difficult to appreciate. You need to be in the right mood to appreciate this release because the sum is bigger than the parts that are performed rather unspectacularly.

Final rating: 70%