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Band: Lacrimosa
Album title: Revolution
Release date: 7 September 2012
Label: Hall Of Sermon
Tracklisting:
01. Irgendein Arsch Ist Immer Unterwegs
02. If The World Stood Still A Day
03. Verloren
04. This Is The Night
05. Interlude - Feuerzug (Part I)
06. Feuerzug (Part II)
07. Refugium
08. Weil Du Hilfe Brauchst
09. Rote Sinfonie
10. Revolution
Institution like Lacrimosa needs no introduction. They've already achived the top status in fields of gothic music and pushed the barriers of the genre into dimensions that only few bands could have achived. Tilo Wolff and Anne Nurmi are those names that not only with their music, but also with image and everything that's around them creates dark music scene and have thousands of devoted followers all around the world. But, the band which created gothic hymns like "Seele In Not", "Das Schweigen", "Schakal", "Stolzes Herz", "Alleine Zu Zweit" and many others seemed to loose the right sense for crafting timeless tunes on their last three albums. Don't get me wrong, there was still marvelous musical work, but the atmosphere was not the same, just listen to their 2003 released Echoes and compare it to their masterwork like Elodia from 1999 and you'll get the point. Now, their eleventh studio album is here and brings some good and some mixed emotions.
Tilo with his captivating, one and only vocal performance still brings shivers, Anne with hers marvelous atmospheric keyboard plays keeps the listener interested, a lot of orchestration and choirs are a standpoint in Lacrimosa lately. This album is bringing a new dimension to Lacrimosa sound with dozens of heavy guitar riffs and metal oriented song structures than anytime in their history. It's nothing strange that Tilo invited Mille from thrash metal legends Kreator and Stefan Schwarzmann from heavy metal legends Accept to join the Revolution. And here we go, with an album that will appeal more to fans of gothic metal music than to ordinary gothsters, kicks off with Lacrimosa trademark song "Irgendein Arsch Ist Immer Unterwegs", amazing orchestrations, heavy guitars, out of this world piano, strong Tilos vocal performance and acoustic guitar insertions make this song one amazing listening experience. It's followed by the only track up here where Anne delivers her vocal performance. Sangt in English "If The World Stood Still A Day" reminded me with it's folk oriented beginning to Blackmore's Night. Not bad, one of the best songs featuring Anne Nurmi in Lacrimosa career. The best in my opinion is the third track "Verloren", crushing riffs, thunderous drumming and one of the best expressive vocal performances from Tilo lately, this one is really huge. But, when the sounds of "Verloren" slowly fade out comes the first dissapointment with Tilo trying to sing in poorly performed english on "This Is The Night", still with great instrumental part, guitar solo is fabulous. Also "Feuerzug" and piano driven ballad "Refugium" leaves us cold, although nothing bad, I haven't heard such a great piano performance quite a long time, but this is Lacrimosa for gods sake and they can do better in those fields. Fortunately the last three songs shows who Lacrimosa really are. Heterogeneous vocal approach, at moments really harsh, on "Weil Du Hilfe Brauchst" and tempo changes give some shivers down the spine. Then epic, eleven minutes long "Rote Sinfonie" is symphonic masterwork, just listen to this perfect composition and arrangment. Solemn orchestrations, piano touches, driving bass and rock elements blend so very well together with once again great vocal performance in this atmospheric rock opera that is really a joy listening to it. "Revolution", the last track up here, just like before mentioned "Verloren" is one hell of a storming metal oriented explosion. Charming atmospheric and strong conclusion of this song gets its highpoint in those words "Keener Ist Alleine Auf Dieser Erde Doch Jeder Ist Allein In Dieser Welt".
Revolution is another great musical jurney under trademark Wolf/Nurmi. There are some flaws, but as an entirety I must say that I'm impressed with it. Probably I was spoiled back then with great albums like Stille, Elodia or Fassade and was expecting too much, but more that I listen to this album, more I'm starting to appreciate it. It's not an easy listen, it needs to be devoted into it and only then it offers amazing sonic experience. "Diese Revolution Ist Die Evolution In Einer Kranken - Kalten Welt".
Review written by: T.V.
Rating: 8/10
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