I really like SA...and am especially a fan of Lowe's vocals...but some of their later stuff got a little too dark for me...I know it's Doom and darkness is a part of the whole thing...but I prefer the ethereal lyrical style of the earlier albums to the dark, seemingly death-centered style of later albums...

Yeah,it is a shame,musically,"Alone" is spectacular,such majestic doom riffs and then those words are heard,in a way,things don't seem to fit right, with the bleak outlook.That really started with Downfall,"Phantoms" was a great song musically,but that was the first to begin the questioning.Before,with Lyle's lyrics,certain things were expected,but he began to give in to the more hopeless side and his last lyrics were the darkest he had ever written.I had hoped, with the experimental feel of Downfall,that it would be a one time thing,but really it was the beginning for what was to come.

Yeah, Alone was massive musically...but some of the lyrics were a bit much. I used to try and ignore them, but at the end of the day, I'm just not into the whole "flesh peels exposing the rotting scent of death" type lyrics...I prefer ethereal, poetic, or heartfelt lyrics.

I think "Alone" is the best thing they have ever done and i really like the lyrics and the overall mood they create but at the same time i agree they have changed since the earlier days. I like both styles of writing though.

Jeez i didn't know all that, thanks for the heads up on that one. Even though Solitude has a decent fan base, i think they deserve to be way bigger than what they are.

You know man,I honestly think that some nowdays are just jumping on a gloom/death/funereal lyrical bandwagon.Of course I keep that opinion expressed only around those in the know about the genre.

Also,even though I have spiritual beliefs,since I am aware of certain things I don't judge,after all,I don't know what some have gone through,as you were not about Solitude.I have had a brief conversation (actually it was an unpublished interview)with Nick Holmes of PL,and kind of understand why he has written some of the things he has,corresponded some with Robert Hackl of Jack Frost,and through the review for his lyric book,sadly am aware of the living hell that Paul Kuhr of Novembers Doom endures daily.I think through this all,I have become a more sympathetic person as well as much more aware.

I will be the first to admit,that like some blind souls I used to speak from an ivory tower about darkness and lack of faith,but now ,having dwelt in the valley of reality,I understand better now.Doom,when sincerely presented,is some of the most powerful and real music there is.Btw,John once told me he was approached with the idea of "toning it down" to achieve wider appeal,but the guy has genuine integrity, and refused to do so,another reason why the genre is one of my favorites,the people are more down to earth and real,playing the music they love because they love the music.

What the hell, i just spent 20 minutes typing a big long reply to this and it didn't post. Just gave me a blank page. I will try again over the weekend.

Yes,that happens to me sometimes too,thought it was just dial -up though.Also, I am notorious for long replies,I used to drive people crazy until I learned how to space and stuff.I had a schedule change for this week so I will be lurking around some on Sun and Mon for once,so may actually be able to get back to you sooner,great to have you on here man ! I can talk Solitude and other great doom bands all day long,majorly dig the following bands

Black Sabbath (bet that comes as a surprise LOL! ) ALL versions of Sabbath,Iommi is king of the heavy riff,like them all !

Solitude Aeturnus (another shocker !)

Last Chapter (like brothers,of course, trying out for vocalist and being called talented in print makes me kind of fond of them also,great guys,great HEAVY band

Trouble-like a sentimental old friend,like some Sab,Vitus and early SA lyrics,my soul can be found among them

Saint Vitus= AWESOME

Pentagram/Place Of Skulls-Victor Griffin is simply one of the coolest and most talented musical individuals on this planet,Bobby Liebling is one of my fave vocalists and a major vocal talent,he seems to be able to bend and twist his vocal sound at will,producing different sounds in different songs.

Wino-any band with Wino,the man is the classic doom equivalent of DIO, you just want to hear that voice,the band name may change but Weinrich is a force of nature,he just is.

Candlemass -Always beeen great, but with Robert on board makes it feel like more of a doom kinship,like far away brothers

Count Raven-one of my all time faves lyrically,wish more doom bands would write like them,not afraid to say anything lyrically,and the music is great as well.

Las Cruces- talented home state band,greatly underrated IMO,Mark Z. is a unique and talented vocalist

All these plus many others,don't want to write a novel here LOL!

Yeah i love all of those also but a few more i would like to throw in is.

Electric Wizard - Still love the early stuff, i think they have lost a little of their edge recently but the early albums is still some of the heaviest stuff ever recorded.

Pagan Altar - Not really a Doom band if you think about it but they are classic old-school metal. Lords Of Hypocrisy is still my all time favorite album from them. That dood's vocals still sound so original.

Witchfinder General - First two albums still sound great today.

Church Of Misery - Endless songs about mass murderer's can get a bit tedious but musically they are a pure Doom onslaught with some killer riffs.

The Lamp Of Thoth - A bit cheesy at times but one of the most entertaining bands around today.

Cathedral - Forest of Equilibrium remains one of my most played and favorite albums ever. I like all their albums but that first album made me a Doom fan for life.

Sleep - Basically summed up the whole stoner/doom scene with one album "Dopesmoker" but Holy mountain is still my favorite.

Doomraiser - One of the best of the newer breed of Doom bands, some of their riffs are so infectious yet so heavy.

There is many more great bands but these ones and the ones on your list remain my most played Doom bands ever.