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MY DYING BRIDE ‘34.788% Complete’ Peaceville (1998/2004)
I have been waiting for this moment to come for quite a long time now – the one chance to give my opinion on an album that has been heavily criticised by the fans of My Dying Bride in the past, and has continued to be treated with scepticism up to this day. Yes, it is true that “34.788%…Complete” is the most unusual release that’s ever come out from under the hands of Yorkshire’s finest, but I wonder whether people ever managed to understand the real importance of such a release.
This seven track album came out two years after the release of “Like Gods of The Sun” (1996). By that stage the band had already explored the depths of their emotional/depressive approach to doom metal music, and it was quite obvious that something had to be done in order for its members to find a new source of inspiration that would enable them to avoid being repetitive and renew their fans’ interest in My Dying Bride’s music. Of course, losing the services of both Martin Powell (violin/piano) and Rick Myah (drums) was not something that Aaron and Co were hoping for at that moment in time, but it was indeed the “excuse” that they needed in order to make all the changes that they had in mind.
“Changes”…well, that is indeed a very interesting word that has been used in the majority of the reviews that you can find either on the Internet or in most music magazines during the period of the album’s release! If you listen to this album very carefully, you will find that the majority of the compositions are created according to the same classic formula that has been used in the past in albums like “Turn Loose The Swans” and “The Angel and the Dark River”. What is quite different is the band’s sound, with synths replacing the natural sound of both the piano and violin, and Aaron Stainthorpe (vocals) finding a different dimension to his vocals by using a distortion pedal.
You cannot accuse “34.788%…Complete” of being devoid of emotion – not when it contains songs like “The Whore, The Cook and the Mother”, “Der Uberlebende” and “Under Your Wings and Into Your Arms”. Others claimed that this album has little connection with the doom metal scene – how can you believe this, having listened to a song like “The Stance of Evander Sinque”? Well, the real “problem” can be traced in a couple of songs, but most specifically to “Heroin Chick”. The first impression that you will get is that of a monotonous composition with weird vocals. Once you read the lyrics and allow yourself to get into the true spirit of the song, you will be shocked by the true power of this composition. Aaron has managed to get “under the skin” of the role that he had to “play” – that of a woman who is willing to do anything in order to get her dose, and the strong/direct lyrics that he has written are enough to shock and disturb any decent human being…it’s a shame that someone decided to sensor key words that would definitely increase the song’s dynamics, and strengthen the point that My Dying Bride were trying to make!
Even though the band re-introduced lengthy compositions with this release, something that was missing from “Like Gods of the Sun”, “34.788%…Complete” is a very easy-listening album. I am very happy to see that the members of the band are still very supportive over their decision to record it, and also quite pleased to see them choosing some of its songs for both their live releases and their compilations. If you are still not convinced about this album’s importance, take a look at the albums that My Dying Bride have released ever since, and perhaps you will find the answer that you are looking for! Is this their “Into the Pandemonium”? I truly believe so!
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Review by John Stefanis
Interview
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