‘In Memory Of’ melodic doom metal

Make no mistake — Norway’s To Cast a Shadow does indeed evoke the finest moments of Paradise Lost’s “Draconian Times” LP with its brand of brooding, melodic doom metal.

But that doesn’t mean they won’t be called goth-rock. Frontwoman Gunnhild Huser’s deep, clean vocals, which she trades with similarly lower-register male vocals and accented growls from the band’s instrumentalists, will make sure of that.

But beyond that sheen, which will surely cause some to draw comparisons between “In Memory Of” and the output of Italian mainstream darlings Lacuna Coil, To Cast a Shadow has crafted some of the most ’90s-obsessed doom of the last decade.

The band is at its best when it challenges the boundaries of its genre, as with the lead Rhodes piano on “The Answer” and the operatic guest vocals of Theatre of Tragedy’s Nell Sigland on “Betula.”

Unfortunately, those moments aren’t nearly common enough. Many of the riffs are generic, and a few songs lack any real hook.

Still, “In Memory Of” contains some real gems, and the next To Cast a Shadow record could easily end up being a masterpiece.