An Epic Dream Of Desire (1995)

Eternal Frost Zine
I bought this from RedStream about half a year ago, but it's doom and I like it, so I'm reviewing it (even though my review will never do it justice). A grey, rainy day like today is perfect for music like this. Are you feeling lethargic? If not, this music will do it for you. I don't know if this is the band's first release or not, but it's quality doom/ death. I think the first song is around fifteen minutes, but I can't tell since it's on a tape. It's a long song, and done very well. . . .
The guitars are drenched with depression. I wonder what goes on inside the heads of Mournful Congregation to write such music. And why are there so many doom bands going unnoticed, even by the underground? There are a lot of great doom bands from Australia, yet most of them are relatively unknown. . . .
There are a lot of changes in each song, so it keeps from getting boring. I honestly didn't expect something this good, or this slow, for that matter. I love my doom SLOW. This isn't the slowest, but it's definitely not fast or even mid-paced. . . . This is killer, and, I think, with a better production, this band could release a real gem of a doom record. Now, if only someone would sign them. The second track is a short instrumental, Miriam, followed by the final track, An Epic Dream of Desire, which is a heart-rending song. The melodies this band creates are astounding. This song has all clean vocals, (the growled vocals are remisicent of Paramaecium). The end of the song is the best part, as they weave sorrowful keyboards into the mix. The band may have a new promo out, but I'm not positive. Write to them and find out. --goden
(Review has been edited)

Mournful Congregation demo
In Australian fields, there's space for doom melodies and to live on the epic side. . . . without a sense of a fast living. . . . only the time is forever. . . . I must say their music is hard to understand. . . .but if you like doom metal, with guttural vocals, and full of dream, buy this piece of desire. . . .


Dahentire 'zine review
Mournful Congregation
An Epic Dream Of Desire Promo 1995
Since the very first time we listened to this Mournful Congregations ethereal creation, we realised that we had found a titanic band almost lost and buried beneath the sands of what we dimly call 'The Underground Scene'. This promo is undoubtedly a masterpiece of truest and purest doom metal. Some people may wonder how a humble demo tape, with a sober production and poor layout, can be rated as a masterpiece of a whole genre. Well, these people should check and listen to it by themselves. The two songs featured in this promo, Heads Bowed and An Epic Dream of Desire, are like two ancient and forgotten towers, ruined towers built in sorrowful harmonies and slow tempos, slow as the heartbeat of the dying. If someone is reading this searching for a cold and dispassionate comment, here it goes: Mournful Congregations music reminds early Anathema. Its sound is based on guitar melodies, with some acoustic guitar to and fro. Low pitched vocals as well as spoken voice, and very slow drums. Satisfied??


From those weighed with inner turmoil. . . .