The Bleak Picture - Shades Of Life
-
THE BLEAK PICTURE – SHADES OF LIFE LABEL: ARDUA MUSIC RELEASE DATE: JUNE 27th 2025
“There are times when sorrow seems to me to be the only truth. Other things may be illusions of the eye or the appetite, made to blind the one and cloy the other, but out of sorrow have the worlds been built, and at the birth of a child or a star there is pain.”
- Oscar Wilde, De ProfundisSince 2021 the creative partnership of vocalist Tero Ruohonen (Autumnfall, Temple Of Kliffoth) and multi-instrumentalist Jussi Hänninen (Autumnfall, ex-Fall Of The Leafe) have been working together under the banner of The Bleak Picture, invoking immense doom/death arias of stunning beauty and overwhelming anguish. With their 2021 debut EP, Songs Of Longing and last year’s momentous full length debut album, Meaningless, The Bleak Picture have begun to carve out a place for themselves in the souls of those destined to walk the hardest, darkest paths. Now they present their second album, a collection of songs that encompasses all they have been before and more. It is time to fall deeper into the illuminating dark…it is time to experience all the Shades Of Life.
This journey into the grey lands begins with ‘Plagued By Sorrow’ and a heavy mantle of sadness settles across as your shoulders as soon as the richly textured sounds begin. Yet as well as placing a sombre weight upon your soul, the song also embraces you in ringing guitar melodies and the crisp, powerful drums carry you forward upon a dark, irresistible tide…after all, there is far to go before you sleep. A dreamlike ambience enfolds you as the exquisite melancholy of ‘Absolution’ slips like smoke into the dark and haunting ‘Code Of Ethics’, where the real and unreal become unrecognisable from each other and you realise you are lost in this world of sound and emotion. The magic of The Bleak Picture lies in their ability to draw you completely into their music, to cocoon you in heartbreak and enshroud you in chill mists of desolation, holding all else at bay. This power is most keenly felt when entwined in the transformative visions of ‘Silent Exit’, an epic piece of quiet grandeur. There is a sense of space within the music of this piece and as you move through it the thoughts that come will be yours alone. And as much as you might wish to pause at this point, to look back even, you must carry your reflections on to the ‘City Of Ghosts’. This haunted place, this sonic cathedral of drifting souls is the perfect conclusion to Shades Of Life; bringing all the memories, imaginings and contemplations of the journey together. It ensures that the listening experience will never be forgotten and whispers enticements to return.
Shades Of Life is built upon the foundations of classic doom/death metal, with deep, expressive vocals, emotive, melodic guitar lines and vast, austere riffs. However it is also dusted in the magic of gothic illusion that engenders a uniquely captivating atmosphere and meticulous attention has been paid to every intricate musical detail – subtle guitar work and outstanding drumming – with each nuance being given space to shine by the meticulous mastering of Javier Fernandez (TodoMal). And all of this combines to form an incredibly complete album, perfect within itself. Look for its coming on June 27th as it is ushered into the world by Ardua Music, on CD and digital formats.
Genre: Melodic Doom/Death Metal
For Fans Of: Paradise Lost | Moonspell | Katatonia | Fields Of The Nephilim Line-up:
Jussi Hänninen - Music
Tero Ruohonen - Vocals
All music written by Jussi Hänninen
All lyrics written by Tero Ruohonen
ARTIST LINKS »
LABEL LINKS »
