It was a sad day when FALL OF THE LEAFE decided to disband in 2007. The Finnish band had developed their sound from melodic death/black metal to a blend of progressive, gothic, and alternative rock/metal, but the high quality of their latest two releases failed to bring any commercial success. Naturally, other priorities in life took over, and the band was put to rest. Vocalist Tuomas Tuominen joined THE MAN-EATING TREE for their first two albums, but things got awfully quiet around guitarist and mastermind Jussi Hänninen. Was his career as a musician a thing of the past?
Flash forward thirteen years, and he is back! Not just with one band, but with two, both with himself as multi-instrumentalist and Tero Ruohonen on vocals. On one hand, there is AUTUMNFALL, which connects to the early FALL OF THE LEAFE sound, and on the other hand, there is THE BLEAK PICTURE, which focuses on doom/death metal. After releasing an EP in 2021 and a full-length album in 2024, THE BLEAK PICTURE are already back with a new album, called “Shades of Life,” released on June 27th, 2025, via Ardua Music.
So, what can we expect from the new album? Stylistically, it’s not that different from the band’s previous releases. They are clearly comfortable with their sound, which has a strong foundation in doom/death metal, but adds variation through its goth-tinged guitar leads and atmospheric songwriting. While the sound has clearly been inspired by PARADISE LOST, early KATATONIA, and DAYLIGHT DIES, it is likely that Jussi Hänninen also loves THE CURE and other bands from the ‘80s goth scene. These gothic elements form a nice contrast with the crushing doom riffs and dense atmosphere, adding to a delightfully miserable experience.
“Shades of Life” kicks off in traditional doom/death metal fashion with opening track, “Plagued by Sorrow.” This song clearly sets the expectations for the rest of the album: a slow pace, deep growls, heavy riffs, melodic leads, and pure despair. There is no joy here, only sorrow and misery. Yet there are more accessible tracks too, like “Absolution,” which leans more towards gothic metal, and the relatively catchy “Without the I,” which has strong RAPTURE vibes. Together with the atmospheric epic “Silent Exit,” these songs highlight Jussi Hänninen’s songwriting skills the most, forming the highlights of the album. This doesn’t mean that the other songs are in any way bad, but these are simply the ones really making a difference.
All things considered, THE BLEAK PICTURE have made another step forward with “Shades of Life.” The band is clearly full of inspiration, having released yet another quality piece of doom/death metal filled with that typical Finnish melancholy. If you’re into any of the bands mentioned in this review, you are likely to enjoy drowning yourself in the misery of “Shades of Life.”
Written by Lykle Thijssen
Tracklist
- Plagued by Sorrow
- Absolution
- Code of Ethics
- Without the I
- Circular Reflection
- Silent Exit
- City of Ghosts
Lineup
Jussi Hänninen – Guitar, Bass, Drums
Tero Ruohonen – Vocals
Label
Ardua Music
