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Leaves Eyes
Lovelorn
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The unceremonious ousting of vocalist Liv Kristine Espanaes Krull from longtime goth-metal band Theatre of Tragedy was probably the closest thing to a bombshell the underground has experienced in ages.
The reason for the drop has always been hazy, ToT camp first saying one thing, Liv Kristine then saying she didn’t even know until she read about it a week or so later. The band has since replaced Liv Kristine and is once more in the studio.
Upon marrying longtime boyfriend Alexander Krull, who also happens to be lead throat for German death metallers Atrocity, however, she was marrying into his band, as well.
Leaves’ Eyes is Atrocity plus Liv Kristine on vocals. Far from death metal, as Atrocity itself has also proved to be (their 1998 covers album featuring interesting takes on such hits as David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” and Tears for Fears’ “Shout” can attest to that), Lovelorn presents a heavy, melodic, almost classically influenced rock album complete with the angelic, operatic vocals that made Liv’s former band as renowned in the underground scene as they were.
Not just in the production seat, hubby pops in now and again on vocals, which to be honest adds little to the album. Something of a concept that deals with love, between man and woman, woman and earth, and so on, a few interactions between Krull and Liv appear on the album. Problem is Krull, while a solid producer, sometimes sounds like the Cookie Monster behind the mic on “Ocean’s Way”, probably the closest thing to a death metal track on the album and “The Dream”, which starts fine, only to be soured by Krull’s growl. However, on “Temptation”, his voice actually complements the harsh, bombastic musical backdrop of the track. Go figure.
Highlights “Secret” and the sweet “Norwegian Lovesong” are really what make Lovelorn a solid album. Anyone who’s familiar with Theatre of Tragedy’s earlier works, Atrocity’s back catalog, even the work of one of Liv’s favorites, Kate Bush, should check this one out.
