DOOL – The Shape Of Fluidity

Written by on 13-04-2024 at 00:51.

Roadburn, Graveland, Pinkpop, Resurrection Fest, Hellfest, Prophecy Fest, Damnation Festival and Helldorado. Just a selection from the list of festivals where DOOL will be playing this year. Not just any list and it shows that the band around television phenomenon, but above all rock legend in the making, Raven van Dorst is perhaps the hottest band in the Netherlands at the moment. With two albums under their belt and positive reviews, expectations for this third album are sky-high. In the promo material provided, one can read that the technical side of the album was taken care of by Magnus Lindberg (known for his work with Cult Of Luna and Tribulation, among others) and Ted Jansen (who is known for his work with AC/DC, Muse and Ghost). That doesn’t really bring down those expectations so to speak. Finally, one last general announcement before we dive in: drummer Micha Haring was replaced by Vincent Kreyder. You might know him from his percussion with the black metal of Sun Of The Sleepless or as a live musician with the gothic metal of The Bleak Vision. With this, a chunk of heavy experience has been brought in.

So DOOL is finally back after four years, and how! Well, in the shape of fluidity. A well-chosen title since the music certainly cannot be pigeonholed and perhaps we should not attempt to do so. Should we even talk about the personal situation (speaking of pigeonholes)? Normally art and the personal should remain separate as far as I am concerned. In this case, however, the two are inseparable. Van Dorst was born with hermaphroditism but found out later in life. At that time the doctors had determined which gender was chosen. This led to a life of self-discovery, breaking taboos and eventually a name change to break the pigeonholing for good. This emotional quest and changes have a clear impact on the music, both in theme and urgency that can be heard on the album. In the process, the overall sound took on a more dark and melancholic undertone compared to the enlightened Summerland.

The above elements immediately became crystal clear in the first released song Hermagorgon. A powerful title consisting of a fusion of the words hermaphrodite and the monstrous cthonic figures from Greek mythology (gorgons). Such a powerful title can only be supported by a powerful song. Dragging doom riffs open the song and the added value of newcomer Kreyder becomes immediately audible. The rippling guitars then take you into the impressive lyrics and lead into a grand chorus. When the haunting guitars return, the enjoyment is complete. More addictive than heroin, this stuff has been under the repeat button continuously for the first few weeks. Constantly craving, yearning for a new climax. Ad nauseam, at least, so I have been told by some resident family members.

‘’For I am my father’s daughter and my mother’s son’’

The second song released is also the album’s opening track. Venus In Flames moves into grungy stoner rock after a brief introduction. The vocal range of vocalist Van Dorst seems to have taken another leap in development. Especially in the lower regions there is a certain mastery that was not so firm before. However, the guitars mainly steal the show here. On the second half, the progressive side comes to full fruition with dreamy prog rock and shoegazy tremolos. The latter we hear again on Self-Dissect. Here DOOL comes out somewaht raw and we get the first great chorus, somewhat of a trademark of the band by now. Speaking of great choruses: the one on title track The Shape Of Fluidity is a downright earworm. Listen to it once and you won’t get it out of your head. I still regularly wake up at night with the echo of this song in my head. Otherwise, from head to tail, this has become a very impressive work. The intriguing introduction, with serene vocals, lead into a powerful riff of epic proportions. In six and a half minutes, DOOL takes us into the depths and Raven is our trip supervisor. The recurring guitar lines and chord progressions are beautiful and leave you intoxicated. The melodies still reverberate in the short epilogue Currents, making the farewell a little less harsh.

After that soul-searching, we are ready for an upbeat counterpart. We find it in the cheerful Evil In You. Here euphoria prevails. The chorus is once more an earworm of sorts, with a highly addictive effect. Once again, withdrawal symptoms can occur after only a single listen. House Of A Thousand Dreams may again count itself among the darker compositions. The dark rock is supported by strings and other additions, giving the whole thing a nice melancholic feel. It has not been disclosed who performs the husky male voice, but it almost seems as if an old Leonard Cohen recording accompanies Raven’s beautiful vocals. The build-up is layered and you can feel the heavy riffs coming from afar. When it comes then it gives an ecstatic feeling. Chapeau DOOL, chapeau! If it wasn’t clear by now: this is pure enjoyment.

What follows is the aforementioned Hermagorgon. We listen to this once again obediently from beginning to end for completeness, and because of the possible trembling hands if we don’t. Okay, one more time to unlearn. Holy smokes, how delicious this is. On Hymn For The Memory Lost, the guitar section gets the spotlight all over again. As a whole, the song is pushed just a little too far, losing its impact slightly, but the leading guitar melody is again very catchy. This is something Papa Emeritus could learn a thing or two from. Closing track The Hand Of Creation sets a dark atmosphere, lacking any real direction. The song finally seems to break open after four minutes, but here too the smeared build-up causes more of a delay than a grand finale. Those who had hoped for an epic apotheosis, as was the case on Summerland with Dust & Shadow, will be somewhat disappointed.

DOOL expands its musical repertoire considerably with The Shape Of Fluidity, with some of the songs being among the band’s best work. Hermagorgon, of course, but also the title track, Evil In You and House Of A Thousand Dreams can be counted among them. The high expectations prior to the album are therefore easily met. DOOL describes itself as a band for anyone who is wandering or perhaps searching for themselves. Fortunately, DOOL offers a place to lose yourself once again in a place that is out of reality and transports you to another world for just under an hour. A world where form and pigeonholes do not exist. The Shape Of Fluidity.

Score:

88/100

Label:

Prophecy Productions, 2024

Tracklisting:

  1. Venus In Flames
  2. Self-Dissect
  3. The Shape Of Fluidity
  4. Currents
  5. Evil In You
  6. House Of A Thousand Dreams
  7. Hermagorgon
  8. Hymn For A Memory Lost
  9. The Hand Of Creation

Line-up:

  • Raven van Dorst – Zang, gitaar
  • Nick Polak – Gitaar
  • Omar Iskandr – Gitaar
  • JB van der Wal – Basgitaar
  • Vincent Kreyder – Drums

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