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Band: Rot On The March
Album title: Era Of The Penultimate Steps
Release date: 6 September 2013
Label: AF-music
Tracklisting:
01. The Fall Of Ecumene
02. My Demon Of Madness Is Getting Weak
03. Tears For The Leaving Sun
04. In Between Days
05. The Song Of Defeat
06. The Outsider
07. I See My World As If I've Died
08. To Joyful & Mad
From "mother" Russia there comes another new gothic rock act named Rot On The March. Actually ROTM started when the only member and mastermind Alex March left the band Fine Time Defeat and songs available on this album are nothing else than songs that were played live by his former band and never got published.
What we got here is another try in playing old good goth from 80's over and over. Nothing wrong with that, but when such uninspired things are beign published the one must ask himself if we really need this,... maybe yes. Don't get me wrong that this is such a bad release, quite some things are done very well, for example guitar lines - sparkly, melodic, melancholic when needed and played with a good feeling. Also bass lines that often take a leading role work out good enough and drum beats are programmed well. The main riff and melody in "The Song Of Defeat" is quite catchy and captivating. Addition of female vocals, for example in uplifting "Tears For The Leaving Sun" and in the last one "To Joyful & Mad" add another dimension.
On Era Of The Penultimate Steps there is almost no time for sweet or emotional songs, the only one with rather more melancholic and emotional touch is "I See My World As If I've Died". This song has a good scheme and composition but unfortunately doesn't reach the peak that you could expect. The rest of the tracks follow similar, uplifting gothic rock and post punk path that in a way reminds me to Ukrainian band The Nightchild. Still, the main reference to Rot On The March's sound must be the whole 80's goth rock company.
Like I said before this album with its 33 minutes of playing time doesn't offer anything enthusiastic. It's too much uninspired and songs are so similar between each other. Predictable compositions ruin those charmy moments that don't get fulfilled to the maximum. Another thing that didn't get my sympathy are the vocals, bland, without any dynamics and most of the time boring. I have nothing against if the band leans to the things that were said and done in the past, but at least there should be some freshness. Era Of The Penultimate Steps is one of those albums that could appeal to those nostalgic gothic rockers that must have in their collection everything that is labeled as gothic rock. Still, I'll follow this act as there is a basis and talent from which we could expect better things in the future.
Review written by: T.V.
Rating: 6,5/10
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