LAKE OF TEARS - Illwill
July 25, 2011, 13 years ago
(AFM)
While the Swedes have made a career of changing musical direction, from melancholic to psychedelica, few would have predicted a straight ahead metallic noise that verges on melodic black metal, ala Immortal! Apart from the corny, over-utilized sales pitch of a title, ‘Midnight Madness’ would be at home on the Norwegian outfit’s latest platter, or even Demonaz’ solo effort. Similar infectious, speed riffing vibes can be heard on the evil as it sounds ‘The Hating’, the Tom G. Warrior approved death grunts in ‘Parasite’ or opening ‘Floating In Darkness’ (complete with “666” chorus). Need I say anything about ‘Taste Of Hell’? The rest seems a mix of DAD minimalism (‘Behind The Green Door’) and likeminded atmospheric Swedes Tiamat (‘House Of The Setting Sun’). One exception, ‘U.N.S.A.N.E.’ which is built around a monster guitar chord, ala early W.A.S.P. (maybe the periods are a hint?). Throughout, you can tell this is the same outfit/guy (Daniel Brennare, guitar/vocals) who recorded Headstones, but no traces of A Crimson Cosmos are evident. Wow!
