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On disc: Lake Of Tears



Headstones - Volker Raabe - 8 stars
A Crimson Cosmos - Volker Raabe - 7 stars
blackbrickroad - Claudia Ehrhardt - 9 stars
Moons And Mushrooms - Claudia Ehrhardt - 8 stars
Illwill - Lars Bjørn - 9 stars


www.lakeoftears.net







Illwill

Illwill
(AFM Records - 2011)


Good news from the Swedish band Lake Of Tears, who have been through a rough time since they started in 1994. Trouble with really making an impact, fans not being convinced about the strength of the band, and a down point in 1999 where they band could not keep together anymore, and the mainman, vocalist and guitarist Daniel Brennare being the only central figure to save the pieces. Luckily there was new spirit and courage to form the band again in 2004 and changing their style a bit into a more heavy sound, that is now filled with power and creative metal, this seems to be the right way for them to go.

This time they are releasing a brand new album completely filled with good aggressive power metal of the traditional power school, but yet holding melodic and laid back elements of superb controlled skills when they perform their style of aggressive power, speed, humorous metal. The opener, Floating In Darkness marks a tight line where they are starting their new era as power metal heroes, so very heavy guitar and power rhythms that rocks you totally. The title track Illwill is an exploding song where no-one can feel save from this heavy onslaught of power. The Hating is more speedy, with melodic guitars and full of controlled tempo. U.N.S.A.N.E. gets more aggressive and comes very close to perfection. Behind The Green Door is so laid-back as possible if it weren't for that power always coming in the background to make the fans go wild. Out Of Control is a classic heavy rock song that hits the target and makes young and older rockers smile.

r> A very great album from the Swedes, and they deserves a character of 9 out of 10 stars.


9 stars

Lars Bjørn
 

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Moons And Mushrooms

Moons And Mushrooms
(Dockyard 1 - 2007)


The band of mastermind Daniel Brennare is around for more then 15 years - and musically the Swedish changed a lot through the years. In 2002 the band broke up, but just a few months later returned and released in 2004 Black Brick Road.
Now they are back with Moons And Mushrooms! They opening up with Last Purple Sky, a heavy, dark rocker. Soon you can't shake of the song and it will spin in your head for days. Heavy guitar riffs dominate the song, but it also has an psychedelic touch and spheric sounds. Somehow a heavy, guitar-driven version of Pink Floyd... Just cool! And it seems that's the way they choose for the moment. You Better Breathe While There's Still Time is catchy. In the beginning a bit aggressive and with fat guitar riffs the songs gets a danceable groove later. With Waiting Counting they slow down for a minute, but then explode into heavy modern rock, but the spherical sounds and the doomy parts make it special. The voice of Daniel Brennare got stronger, its obvious that he worked on his vocal performance since the last release. On Children Of The Grey the staccato guitar riffing and the mean vocals let me think for a brief moment of... I can't tell... some dark, gothic metal stuff... of NIN and even Marilyn Manson... But don't ask me what gives this impression. And the synthesizer sounds make it sound weird... In the 60's one would think the track was written under the influence of LSD... Or magic mushrooms... After the straight rocker Island Earth the quartet takes you again on a journey with Planet Of The Penguins. A slow, relaxed and psychedelic song with a cool guitar solo.
Fans would be disappointed, if the Swedish foursome wouldn't have a ballad on the CD - and they get one! Like A Leaf is a touching rock ballad which comes to live through the voice of Daniel - and the bluesy guitar. The song carries you away into day dreams.... Enchanting. An ear-catcher!
Actually you can pick every song of Moons And Mushrooms to get a feel for the album, just the ballad would lead you into the wrong direction, but every other track is a good choice!


8 stars

Claudia Ehrhardt
 

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blackbrickroad

blackbrickroad
(Sanctuary - 2004)


Ten years ago the Swedish released their debut Greater Art. A good album, but... A year later in 1995 they presented Headstones where the made up the 'mistakes' from their debut. But it took one more album to get the attention of the metal scene - A Crimson Cosmos. The trio - they worked with different guitarists - released Forever Autumn in 1999, but the album couldn't compete with it's predecessor. The band broke up. Knowing that they have the potential, but couldn't use it at the time. To fulfill the contract with Black Mark Records mastermind Daniel Brennare recorded The Neonai in 2002. In summer 2003 the threesome came together to jam a little and the magic was there and so Lake Of Tears got revived. They took their time to write new songs and to look for a new deal. Now they are back with BlackBrickRoad where they combine gothic, rock and metal. The album opener The Greymen shows the musical direction of the Swedish. As the other songs this one is catchy, has something touching. The song sounds a little blue sometimes, but when the speed up it's a powerful mid-tempo rocker. On Making Evenings the three remind me partly of some gothic-pop and partly of Charon / Sentenced... Another Swedish band comes to mind... Tiamat. Actually Daniel Brennare and his pals created songs in their tradition of their A Crimson Cosmos album, but present them in a modern sound. Another song to check out is the title track. A mid-tempo tune full of melancholy, some psychedelic elements and a chorus which sneaks into your brain. One of the highlights of this album in my opinion. Different is A Trip With The Moon which has some gothic-pop appeal, even if it has some metallic sounds and heavier vocals. I can imagine very well to see this - a video clip - on the music TV channels... No idea, if something like this is planned.
The band works with unusual sounds and elements. A very interesting album which should be of interest for fans of Tiamat, HIM, Charon and After Forever. Check this out!


9 stars

Claudia Ehrhardt
 

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A Crimson Cosmos

A Crimson Cosmos
(Black Mark - 1997)


The last 2 albums and also the performance of the Swedish Lake Of Tears at the Summer Metal Meetings were convincing. On their latest opus A Crimson Cosmos the band is a little more experimental and again they delivered a quite good album. Even if a danceable classic like their Devils Diner can't be found or not in numbers on this silver disc. But there are sensible arranged songs which sound partly like a heavy version of Pink Floyd.


7 stars

Volker Raabe
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)
 

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Headstones

Headstones
(Black Mark - 1995)


Their debut was quite convincing and the fanzines and magazines react really positive on this output. And the same should happen with Headstones. The musical style of the Scandinavians is based on atmospheric melodies and could be seen as a heavier version of Tiamat's Wildhoney. Lake Of Tears know how to combine dark vocals and melodic riffing. You need some tracks to check out? Listen to Dreamdemons and Ravenland!


8 stars

Volker Raabe
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)
 

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           ©2008-2014 by Claudia Ehrhardt • E-Mail: contact@ice-vajal.com


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