I think SEROTONAL is the reason that I felt DEADLIGHT sounded British. I received the two to review at about the same time and they both embrace a melancholy spirit through an alternative-minded sound that doesn’t need to be firmly in the Metal camp to be heavy.

SEROTONAL is the new (relatively, though this EP came out two years ago) project of former ANATHEMA vocalist Darren J. White (also of DEAD MEN DREAM and THE BLOOD DIVINE). This is not a departure from post-1998 ANATHEMA; there’s the same clean picking, quiet tempo, flirtations with Metal, and the ability to sound decompressed even in a song shorter than five minutes. Comparatively, SEROTONAL is a little less gentle, rougher around the edges, at their heavier moments bringing to mind such Alternative Metal bands as late FALL OF THE LEAFE or THE WOUNDED.

Qualitatively, the songs don’t particularly stick out. Usually an acoustic or otherwise cleanly picked introduction coupled with unassuming vocals before accusingly down-tuning the guitars and adding a bit more bite to the voice. Rinse and repeat. The formula’s familiar and with the proper savvy it works well, but SEROTONAL usually ends up sounding, if not derivative, at least faceless. In one ear, out the other. The band hasn’t given us a reason to listen to their album a second time.

The last two tracks are bonuses for the 2007 Metal Breath re-release.

(Online October 22, 2007)