Some might know Ed Warby from the Death Metal or the Prog Rock scene. But it seems this man is chronically underemployed. And he can also do it slow, very slow. On Lacrima Mortis THE 11th HOUR offer epic Doom/Death Metal (with a proper portion of a Goth feeling) as its best, whereas Ed Warby not only wrote all the music and played almost all instruments, but also took over the clean vocal parts.

And that he does utmost acceptable. His tight yet plaintive voice perfectly suits the elegiac, deeply melancholic soundscapes. Meters high guitar walls pile up, which lock the listener into a pitch black labyrinth, added by the expressive growls of Pim Blankenstein (Officium Triste), who replaces Rogga Johannson (who did this part on the debut). Seven mostly overlong tracks develop advisedly, but create such knock-on effect one can hardly elude. This is due to feastful melodies, the great singing as well as the distinct heaviness. I rarely heard an album where this combination worked out so well.
Songs such as the opener We All Die Alone (with a gently used piano), the driving Tears Of The Bereaved (with the nerve-racking sample of a crying woman in the middle) and the mean slouching Nothing But Pain get stuck in your ears latest with the third run. Watch out: The consumption of Lacrima Mortis might leave you addicted.

It also seems that THE 11th HOUR has developed from a studio project to a real band, having already played a couple of live shows. It might still take some time till THE 11th HOUR have a show near you, till then… listen and enjoy Lacrima Mortis, it’s worth it!