Since 2004 the rather strangely named project Doom:VS is Johan Ericson’s way to keep himself busy. Besides his main band, Draconian, he finds the time to get his solo project going as well. And with “Dead Words Speak” he just released his second album. Many people think that Doom:VS does not really have the right to exist as it does not really differ that much from Draconian… But, is that really that bad, in the end?
Clearly, Johan Ericson has a certain kind of writing his music, and that is easily heard in both Draconian and Doom:VS. Yet, for the careful listener some differences can not be missed. Doom:VS tend to be a bit more symphonic in the way a band like Pantheist and Skepticism are and on the other hand it lacks the gothic parts that seems Draconian’s trademark ever since the release of their best album, “Arcane Rainfell”. But the similarities between both bands are very obvious and if you like one you can’t miss out on the other either. Symphonic melodic doom/death by the book, a safe bet, but still very tasty.
Doom:VS is easily able to stand on its own, yet for the sceptics, it is still doubtfull whether they will change their ideas on the band. Other than this “Dead Words Speak” is a great listen. Comfortable and recognizable, yet it lacks all originality and it might be hard to really stand out these days.
