Lacrimas Profundere Ave End

Hmm, here’s an interesting one.

Now, part of me wants to lambaste these guys because, much like their last release Fall, I Will Follow in 2002, all of their songs tend to sound just a little too similar. Now, of course, a band’s going to have a signature sound but variety is the spice of life, no? When I say similar I mean the same drum fills, same guitar riffs, same low-end bass line leading into a song’s breakdown are sprinkled all over. Really, a couple times I had to look at the track listing to see if I’d moved on to the next tune or not.

Then, there’s the other part of me that wants to praise these German natives for a marked improvement over their last album. Sure, I think they’re still taking one too many nods from Portuguese Goth-Metallers Moonspell, and many of the songs are a little too similarly structured, and that opening track? I would have started with “Ave End” myself. But where Fall... showed promise yet ultimately failed because it was just, well, boring, I found myself really rocking out to some of the tracks here.

The excellent riff and conveyor belt drag of “To Bleed or not to be” stood out among the rest and the catchy, mid-tempo churn of “Evade” is a definite metal radio friendly crowd pleaser. I played that one a number of times following a few pissed-off afternoons at the office.

The production has also stepped up. Where before, nothing seemed to possess it’s own identity, Willi Wurms’ drums on Ave End thud, the guitars crunch and Chris Schmid’s vocals, albeit still a little hard to understand, likely due to accent, are really starting to come into their own.

I say starting to. This is a fun, enjoyable album that I recommend for its parts, not necessarily its whole. Lacrimas Profundere are improving but aren't quite there yet. Still, I won't mind tagging along for the ride.

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Release Date: September 28, 2004
Tracks: 11 - Time: 43:26
Produced by: Lacrimas Profundere
Format: CD
Website: www.lacrimas.com

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