Necare (Latin for to kill with malice aforethought) is a project of two gentlemen, Ryan Henry and Greer Cawthon, from Newport News, Virginia, in the U.S. of A. They started around 1999 and to this day they’ve released two demos, which are both out of print now. Their debut cd Ruin, will be released by Finnish label Firebox, a label that seems to sweep the worldwide doom-metal underground clean of unsigned bands, because I received three albums from them in the past few weeks and it seems they’ll release a lot more.

Ruin begins with acoustic guitars and a keyboard in the background, quite peaceful but with a hint of the misery that will follow. Violins add to the atmosphere of forthcoming doom. Then the electric guitars kick in, in the following track and the singer begins his tale of sorrow and despair. Like most doom metal bands the lyrics fit best to autumn, when everything that lives dies, and the world is cold and dark; a time of reflection and self-exploration. The lyrics of Ruin deal with the subject of death, and the despair it brings to humanity.

A subject that has been used by many bands before but Necare gives their own twist to it.

Musically Necare draws its inspiration from the old English doom metal bands like My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost and Anathema; slow paced, a massive grunt and mournful guitars. On top of that are the keyboards and the occasional piano and violins, giving the music an orchestral ambiance fitting for the whole image of the band. Although the tracks are long and slow, there’s enough going on to keep things interesting. The lyrics are proclaimed with real emotion and intent. Strongest track in my opinion is “Desire The Dawn & The Chrysalis”, combining all aforementioned elements in one massive doom-metal hymn.

Although Necare is not at all original or trendsetting (just like label mates Withering), they deliver their music with unmistaken quality and devotion to the genre, thus making this release a justified one.