The Wounded - Official Website - Interview


The Art Of Grief

Netherlands Country of Origin: Netherlands

1. Your Roses Will Burn
2. Smalltown Boy
3. We Pass Our Bridal Days
4. The Art Of Grief
5. Frailty Thy Name Is Woman (Where Are You Now)
6. Against All Gods
7. Billet Doux
8. In Silence…

Review by Tobias on February 15, 2001.

Plastered on the cover of the CD was a sticker that said “The Cure meets Anathema”. As you regular readers might’ve noticed, I’m not too big on whiny music. The Cure is the supreme ruler of grief-stricken, teary-eyed music (particularly the old stuff) and I am much more likely to pop Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me or Anathema’s Judgement into my player than listen to The Art of Grief.

I suppose one of the problems here is that The Wounded is trying to create new music when they are really just modifying old stuff and giving it a bit of a hybrid edge. What they’ve really produced is another entry in the small and rarely appreciated book of moody-metal. And I say “metal” grudgingly:

1. the guitars get hard, but never heavy;
2. the keyboards provide an adhesive layer under the other instruments without which the rest of the music would never have made it out of a garage; though they are simple, this is the best part of the music, providing smooth movement and almost a spooky atmosphere
3. on Frailty Thy Name is Woman, Wounded’s heart-torn vocalist attempts some growling that is almost laughable (imagine Tears For Fears taking a mean crap)

If you want to feel sorry for yourself and get some depression enhancing music, this is a pretty good buy. I know that I'm basically ripping The Wounded a new asshole, but understand that the music is decent for the whole “I’m a sensitive guy, so let me cry in your ear” fan base. But I thought we were done with that in the mid-nineties! I don’t know man, maybe some 14 yr. old chicks will dig it… hopefully it can get their minds of those Backstreet Butt-Nugget boy bands.

Bottom Line: If you want to cry, either for depression therapy or because you like to torture yourself, The Art of Grief makes good on its words. Personally, I like music with balls; The Wounded seem to be grieving the loss of theirs.

Rating: 4 of 10

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