After the staggering Symphonaire Infernus et Spera Empyrium EP in 1991, it was yet to be seen whether My Dying Bride could live up to the obvious promise they displayed. After all, it was really only the exceptional title track on that particular release that caused all the excitement, with the other two tracks taking a more traditional death metal path that wasn't particularly revolutionary. Was that epic track merely a fluke or were we about to experience something truly breathtaking? As the Flower Withers answered the question in no uncertain terms and I thoroughly believe that the album doesn't get the admiration it deserves for the simple fact that most listeners came across it after hearing the bands later work. There's absolutely no doubt that Turn Loose the Swans in particular is a far superior album, so anyone listening to As the Flower Withers after experiencing that example of perfection is likely to be a tad disappointed. But when you place this album into its correct context, being that it was released in 1992 when death doom was in its absolute infancy, there's just no denying that As the Flower Withers is a groundbreaking and classic album.