UMUR
"The Plight" is an EP release by Finnish death-doom metal (previously thrash metal) act Sceptical Schizo. The EP was released through Wounded Love Records in January 1993. It´s the successor to the June 1992 "Into the Suction of Blue / Withdrawn" EP. Sceptical Schizo formed in 1988 under the Epidemic monicker but changed their name to Sceptical Schizo later the same year. They operated under the Sceptical Schizo band name until 1993 when they changed their name to Lavra. They didn´t manage to release a full-length studio album during the 1988-1993 period, but they were still relatively active releasing no less than four demos and two EPs. "The Plight" was their last release prior to changing their name to Lavra and it´s the only Sceptical Schizo release which was put out through a label during their original run.
"The Plight" features 2 tracks and a total playing time of 15:10 minutes. The music is slow, heavy, and melancholic death-doom metal but with the occassional slow death-n´roll touch (and even a nod or two towards funeral doom metal). Sceptical Schizo occasionally show a slightly more experimental/avant-garde edge, but "The Plight" is generally a more "normal" death-doom metal release compared to the highly experimental "Into the Suction of Blue / Withdrawn" EP. The sound production is raw and unpolished but it´s still the best quality sound production on any of the Sceptical Schizo releases from the 1988-1993 period.
How a relatively mediocre brutal thrash metal act turned into a creative and intriguing experimental death-doom metal act over the course of a few years is beyond me, but Sceptical Schizo must have taken a conscious choice during the early 90s death metal explosion and decided to jump the thrash metal ship and play a completely different music style. There´s nothing connecting the four demos with the two EPs Sceptical Schizo released after them, and it could well have been two completely different bands playing. "The Plight" is a good quality death-doom metal release and with the unusual songwriting ideas which Sceptical Schizo incorporate I´d even say that it´s a relatively unique release. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
