UMUR "Symbols For The Blue Times" is the 3rd full-length studio album by German thrash/heavy metal act Depressive Age. The album was released through GUN Records in 1994. It´s the successor to "Lying in Wait" from 1993 and marks a change in musical style for Depressive Age.

The first two albums were more or less sibling albums featuring a similar technically well played thrash metal style with progressive elements and both also featured a similar sounding production. "Symbols For The Blue Times" still features the occasional thrash metal riff and rhythm, but it´s predominantly not a thrash metal release. The music is dark, heavy, and melancholic heavy metal. It´s still unmistakably the sound of Depressive Age, but it´s very much due to the distinct sounding voice and delivery of lead vocalist Jan Lubitzki. His voice and singing style define the music and ensure a unique sound and music style. His distinct sounding voice is probably an aquired taste, but those who enjoy dark and slightly gothic tinged vocals performed with great passion (it sometimes sounds like he is crying while singing) and loads of melancholy should find a lot to enjoy here.

The material is relatively diverse and some tracks are dark and somber while others are a bit more uplifting and energetic. The album also features a couple of ballad/power ballad type tracks/moments, where "Port Graveyard" stands out as the strongest and most memorable. Other highlights include the quite charming and uplifting "Garbage Canyons" and the thrashy "We Hate Happy Ends", but "Symbols For The Blue Times" is overall a consistent release featuring very few weak moments. On the other hand it´s not an album featuring many standout tracks and there are a couple of tracks I don´t remember as well as others after the album has ended. I wouldn´t call those tracks filler material because I enjoy them while they are playing, but a few more standout tracks wouldn´t have hurt. Featuring 13 tracks and a total playing time of 56:25 it could be argued that it´s a couple of songs too long, or at least that it would have stood stronger with a little trimming of the fat.

Depressive Age are a well playing band and everything is delivered with skill and the right organic touch to make the music alive and to create the melancholic atmosphere which is so important for the band´s music. The sound production is dark and heavy, which suits some of the tracks well, but other tracks could to my ears have prospered from a slightly less dark sound. Upon conclusion "Symbols For The Blue Times" came as a bit of a surprise for contemporary listeners and critics, and you´ll find very different opinions about the album out there. Some are disappointed that Depressive Age more or less shed their thrash metal roots, and some even accuse the band of jumpin on the alternative rock/metal wagon, which was popular at the time of the album´s release, and while there certainly are the occasional nod toward the most heavy end of that scene (Alice in Chains comes to mind), this is still first and foremost a heavy metal album with thrash metal and semi-progressive leanings. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.