Averon - An Echo From Beyond (1999)

   The '90s sound of doom metal was mainly determined by bands who debuted by playing death/doom, but eventually softened their style and by gaining wider popularity, became icons of the late '90s metal scene. Bands like Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride and Tiamat. To this could be led back how and why the sound of ordinary doom metal became harsher than in the '80s.
    This tendency is quite spectacular at Averon, since despite being an epic doom metal band, they also sounded heavier than how it was usual from similar bands a decade earlier. And the harsher sound was also followed by harsher vocal style by the same influences. The traditional heavy metal compatible high toned singing didn't remain even occasionally. Except the mentioned classics, similar rusty toned singing is also usual in stoner rock, and by the combination of sound and vocal style analogy, the riffs also showing some similarities led by the intention to increase the diversity of the themes. So basically this is a great example how relatable styles that grew out from the same origin (from '70s) to find their own different sound and features, drifted closer to each other by natural processes 2 decades later. Averon's debut "Serenity" was mainly influenced by My Dying Bride and Tiamat, and on their returning album "An Echo From Beyond" on the side of the very dense melancholic atmosphere that spreads over the whole record, the probably unintended and indirect analogy with stoner rock also could be sensed. Strongly recommended for the fans of '90s doom metal.