File this one under “guilty pleasure”.

Really, Lacrimas Profundere's entire catalog has fallen into this category, for me at least, as none of their output could be called groundbreaking, falling into the familiar structures of goth rockers like To/Die/For, 69 Eyes and HIM.

On their latest, The Grandiose Nowhere, the “Rock N Sad” (really?) crew has upped the ante on HIM comparisons. Singer Rob Vitacca sounds more than once or twice like Ville Valo on this, his second album with the band, replacing founding singer Christopher Schmid, whom he also seems to imitate when not imitating Bam Margera's BFF. Guitarist Oliver Schmid seems to channel HIM's earlier outputs, as well, most notably debut Greatest Love Songs: Vol. 666 and follow-up Razorblade Romance (no surprise, since HIM production veteran John Fryer helmed the album).

And that's where the “guilty pleasure” comes in. While HIM's commercial success has seemed to dull its edges in the last few years, Lacrimas Profundere's drifting closer and closer to that band's heavier, catchier material has proved to be, well, very enjoyable. Bite-sized rock morsels like “The Letter”, “My Little Fear” and “Side” might result in sudden head banging breakouts and a serious case of repeat track finger. “I Don't Care” and “Dead Heart Serenade” are well-crafted melancholic goth metal ballads while Vitacca even breaks away from the shadows of other vocalists on occasion, as evidenced on closer “No Matter Where You Shoot Me Down”. It's in him to be his own vocalist, for sure, he's just not quite there yet.

I can remember saying that about other Lacrimas Profundere albums in the past – not quite there yet. This band continues to be a guilty pleasure just a few steps away from potential greatness. And if they never go beyond that, well, maybe that's not such a terrible thing. They'll always leave us wanting more.