Angry Metal Guy<p><a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/the-bleak-picture-shades-of-life-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Bleak Picture – Shades of Life Review</a></p><p><i>By Maddog</i></p><p></p><p>It’s been a draining year. Lacking the mental energy for new music, I’ve subsisted on a diet of <strong>ISIS</strong> and <strong>Fvneral Fvkk</strong>. Clouded by the doomy stylings of the latter, I decided to make my return to reviewing with dismal death-doom. Despite releasing their debut just last year, Finland’s <strong>The Bleak Picture</strong> is a project of members of <strong>Autumnfall</strong>. That said, these two bands sound worlds apart, as their names betray. Abandoning the blackened scenery of <strong>Autumnfall</strong>, <strong>The Bleak Picture</strong> paints a bleak picture with melodic death-doom that reeks of Finland. Channeling the icons of sadboi history, <em>Shades of Life</em> is a flawed but worthwhile slab of morose doom.</p><p>You won’t find much innovation here, but <strong>The Bleak Picture</strong> has learned from the best. Blending harsh vocals and spoken word, doomy plains and deathy mountain ranges, <em>Shades of Life</em> consists of familiar elements. The opener “Plagued by Sorrow” offers the listener zero seconds of respite before launching into a persistent doom riff. Melodic guitar leads steer the album along, stitching the doomy cuts together in a manner that recalls <strong>Enshine</strong> (“Without the I”). Rather than slowing to a standstill, <strong>The Bleak Picture</strong> uses <strong>Insomnium</strong> riffs to push the album along without diluting its sorrow. The guitars (handled by Jussi Hänninen, along with the other instruments) are the core of <em>Shades of Life</em>, but Tero Ruohonen’s vocals broaden its horizons. While he largely dwells in standard harsh territory, Ruohonen’s cleans tinge the album with gothic influences, like the distorted spoken word of “Absolution.” Indeed, sections like the straightforward rock of “Without the I” recall <strong>Paradise Lost</strong>. However, lest this lengthy description fool you, <em>Shades of Life</em> is largely standard fare.</p><p></p><p>It feels criminal to listen to <em>Shades of Life</em> on a 90-degree summer day. <strong>The Bleak Picture</strong> conveys emotion through the sheer enormity of their riffs, burying the listener like an avalanche (“Absolution”). Elsewhere, <em>Shades of Life</em> deftly intersperses these assaults with tranquility, like the transition from an explosive chorus to minimalist bass-led instrumentals on “Plagued by Sorrow.” These strengths reach their apex on the 11-minute spectacle “Silent Exit.” Evoking <strong>Swallow the Sun</strong>’s <em>Plague of Butterflies</em>, the track progresses through a nightmarish acoustic melody, forceful doom riffs, and girthy bass lines. <strong>Cult of Luna</strong>-style drumming leads the song into a climactic ending that raises the bar even further. Across these highlights, <strong>The Bleak Picture</strong>’s sophomore release boasts a mature approach to songwriting.</p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Shades of Life</em> still struggles to transcend its melodic death-doom formula. The album’s biggest weakness is its monotony. In their quest for chunky riffs, <strong>The Bleak Picture</strong> tends to overuse ideas, emulating an uninspired version of <strong>Rapture</strong> (“Code of Ethics”). Even the album’s best pieces sometimes fizzle out, like the abrupt ending of the otherwise-powerful “Absolution.” Similarly, while the penultimate track “Silent Exit” showcases the best of <em>Shades of Life</em>, the closer “City of Ghosts” settles into a low-energy doom routine that never picks up steam. Despite its apparent variety of influences, <strong>The Bleak Picture</strong>’s by-the-book approach to death-doom doesn’t always keep my interest.</p><p>An album like <em>Shades of Life</em> is difficult to dissect; its success hinges on the heart, not the brain. <strong>The Bleak Picture</strong> is on the right path, and tracks like “Silent Exit” hit hard with their bulky riffwork and creative variety. But as a whole, <em>Shades of Life</em> isn’t the gut punch I’d hoped for. It doesn’t match the raw power of <strong>Paradise Lost</strong>, the otherworldly sadness of <strong>Enshine</strong>, or the narrative prowess of <strong>Insomnium</strong>. Still, I have no regrets. There are strong whiffs of talent here, and with its mature and tempered approach to songwriting, <em>Shades of Life</em> is an easy, rewarding listen. It’s worth a shot for anyone who prefers moping over sunlight.</p> <p><strong>Rating:</strong> 2.5/5.0<br><strong>DR:</strong> 9 | <strong>Format Reviewed:</strong> 320 kb/s mp3<br><strong>Label:</strong> <a href="https://www.arduamusic.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ardua Music</a><br><strong>Websites:</strong> <a href="http://thebleakpicture.bandcamp.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">thebleakpicture.bandcamp.com</a> | <a href="http://facebook.com/thebleakpicture" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">facebook.com/thebleakpicture</a><br><strong>Releases Worldwide:</strong> June 27th, 2025</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2-5/" target="_blank">#25</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2025/" target="_blank">#2025</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" 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