About.com review for Running Out of Daylight
The Living Fields have brought some originality to metal with their second record, Running Out of Daylight. The band have been handed an epic doom/progressive moniker by many, which is a cop out of massive proportions. The fantastic thing about The Living Fields is that they are tough to throw into a specific genre. All that can be surmised is how unique this band is, and how strong their sophomore effort turns out to be.
In a scenario that can only happen in this modern era, the band members have never performed together as a group. They reside in all parts of the world, yet have a collective vision that glows from this record. The music takes its cues from all walks of metal life, from bombastic progressive movements to emotional doom outbursts. With a My Dying Bride-ish opening that segues into acoustic splendor, "Bitterness" is one of the tracks that best describes the eccentric style of The Living Fields.
This is not only restricted to "Bitterness" though. The entire album is all over the place, as the band adds in piano, violins, cellos, keyboards, and various other instruments on top of the usual guitars/bass/drums fare. On songs like opener "Remnant," these elements evoke a folk-infused spirit to the music. None of it comes across as over-the-top and seems more like a crucial focal point to the songwriting.
The eight songs on Running Out of Daylight have a quality to them that's undeniable. The band can go from a crushing atmosphere tune in "From Miseries to Bloodsoaked Fields" to a '70s acoustic jam with "When The Walls Go Up" with no hesitation. This kind of sharp contrast can be hard to sink into with just one listen. That can go double for the vocals, which seem to have no range limits. Piercing screams, clean wails, raspy growls; just a brief smidgen of the fantastic vocal work involved.
Going for it all on the 16-minute title track pays off for the band. This huge undertaking has so much content that describing it in detail is futile. Just expect plenty of acoustic beauty, soaring clean vocals, and an angry streak in certain places. The fact that they pull it off without any lengthy solo breaks or needless ambient pieces is an accomplishment in itself. It's a testament to how far the band has come since their self-titled debut.
It will be interesting to see what kind of listeners grip onto Running Out of Daylight. Doom fans? Progressive metal fanatics? Folk fiends? The answer isn't simple, and neither is this record. Other than the straightforward "Glacial Movements," nothing is black-or-white. Whether it's the lyrics or the music, the layers are stacked to infinity, and only diligent music fans will take the time to peel them apart.
Grade: 4/5
Dan Marsicano, About.com