LAKE OF TEARS - By The Black Sea
February 18, 2014, 10 years ago
(AFM)
Career spanning live album from enigmatic Swedes, the hour-long DVD/CD package was recorded in Bucharest, last year. Over the course of 16 songs, the scope of LAKE OF TEARS material becomes evident, from the bouncy synth pop of ‘The Greymen’, brooding melancholy of ‘Raven Land’, the ’94 debut’s ‘As Daylight Yields’, the psychedelia of ‘Boogie Bubble’ and ‘Cosmic Weed’ plus the melodic black metal intensity of ‘Taste Of Hell’, although their heaviest material, ala ‘The Hating’ and ‘Midnight Madness’ (both off the stellar Illwill album) has been omitted from this concert set. For those that have been onboard since the Black Mark Records days, it’s been wild, two decades! Regardless of stylistic expression, all are delivered with raspy, hoarse vocals, courtesy of mainstay/guitarist Daniel Brennare. In some ways, the Tears’ career parallels that of countrymen TIAMAT, although the later have yet to extricate themselves from the experimental downward spiral, but there’s always hope. Wouldn’t say this is the definitive live collection (although ‘Demon You/Lily Anne’ certainly qualifies), but undoubtedly as close as most North American fans are libel to get to witnessing the band in person.
