Lullacry
Crucify My Heart
8.1
Hails! For my first review for this fine metal site I chose to look at Lullacry's new album, Crucify My Heart. Hailing from Finland, they experienced some acclaim and exposure with 2001's Be My God, an album that combined melodic, Swedish-style guitar lines, a Finnish Goth-rock atmosphere, and a wonderful female vocalist who reminds me a bit of those 80's rock chicks, all sped up a few notches. In the downtime between albums they replaced the attractive, blonde singer Tanya with an equally-attractive brunette named Tanja. (Got that?) The transition is seamless, with the only audible difference being a slightly higher pitch to the new girl's vox. Now this band is arguably metal, I like to think of Lullacry more as hard rock, but who cares? Crucify My Heart freakin' rocks! It's just a fun, loud album with enough musicality to keep you intrigued. The production isn't perfect, with fuzzy bass, and at times the leads are a bit buried behind a heavy rhythm-guitar, but this is nitpicking. A perfect example of this mix is found on Sentenced's song "Neverlasting". Musically, the leads and solos of Sami Vauhkonen show serious talent and a sense of melody, while the bass lines fit the songs and mood quite nicely. The album is so guitar-driven that the drums are barely noticeable, but hey, this isn't death metal so it works. The album kicks off with a pounding track, "Alright Tonight". It begins with Tanja singing the first line over the backing of a lone, quiet guitar before ripping into an In Flames-style, wah-accentuated riff. Lots of power chord rhythms are spread throughout the song, especially under an addictive chorus where Tanja's voice gets doubled up for effect. Next up is the title track which mixes heavier, less-upbeat rhythms with clean guitar passages. My only complaint is a solo that never quite comes to a climax. The album's first single, "Don't Touch the Flame", is a bit lighter, perhaps more accessible for the Finnish airwaves, and catchy as always. If you're a fan of ballads, well hey, you get one of those too("Unchain")! Other standout tracks are "Pitch Black Emotions" and "Nothing to Lose", with the latter featuring an infectiously-catchy main riff that reminds me of an old Local H song. Back on track... It's clear that Lullacry has been influenced by the Sentenced/Charon school of Finnish rock, but their spin on it is a bit heavier and less melancholic. If you're already a fan of the band you'll be pleased with Crucify my Heart, and if you're not a prior fan but are in the mood for some fun, bouncy hard rock, then give this a try.
Related
LullacryVol. 4
1/24/2006