Mastermind Geoff Thorpe returns with the new Vicious Rumors album “Celebration Decay” which aims to keep alive the band’s legacy and marks another milestone in their longstanding career. 

The title track ensures an aptly vicious beginning unleashing massive guitar driven grooves supported by an explosive rhythmic section and constantly enriched by the excellent leads & the charismatic shredding rampage. 

“Pulse Of The Dead” relies on the raw energy of the ravenous vocals and the thrilling groovy dynamics which certainly channel a classic thrash metal spirit with the perfect dosage of sharp guitar riffs leading to sophisticated soloing. 

“Arrival Of Desolation” immediately showcases a darker mood so at times the tempo gets a bit slower to emphasize the intensity of the melodic guitar licks nevertheless the rhythmic patterns can successfully build a groovy & faster momentum.  

On “Darkness Divine” the band chooses to embrace a dramatically slower sonic pathway naturally enhancing a sorrowful mood that obviously puts the spotlight on the appealing melodic guitar work while some heavier rhythmic blasts still manage to channel a solid groovy energy.

On “Death Eternal” you can immediately perceive a classic heavy metal approach consequently the guitar work is bound to take the center stage to skillfully create a blend of chunky riffage and inflamed leads. 

On “Masquerade Of Good Intentions” guitars are once again ready to keep everything interesting delivering mighty riffs and elegant melodic twists during the solos in the midst of a darkened sonic vision and a belligerent rhythm.

Vicious Rumors ultimately create a collection of anthemic savage songs that will satisfy the faithful fans and never fail to  demonstrate the band’s enthusiasm and creative force throughout “Celebration Decay”. 

During the last 26 years Lacrimas Profundere have created melancholia driven music staying true to a personal sonic pathway far from any given trend and after many line up changes they return to channel their darkly romantic essence on the new effort “Bleeding The Stars”. 

The delicate guitar melodies and the exquisite vocals by new vocalist Julian Larre on “I Knew And Will Forever Know” bring you straight into a seductive gothic/doom realm, the ideal scenario to shed tears and feel intense emotions, and the soothing melodic waves spontaneously embrace the scattered bold rhythmic dynamics. 

“Celestite Woman” maintains the gothic allure mainly with the delicious hints of melancholia within the atmospheric arrangements and with the inspired baritone vocal delivery yet throws in the mix some super groovy goth ‘n roll guitar riffs & chorus. 

You can easily perceive the poetic soul of “Mother Of Doom” as this track is filled with heartfelt guitar melodies and charming introspective vocals but also plenty of catchy rhythmic patterns enhanced by the sing along chorus and the elegant keyboards layers. 

With a faster pace and heavier rounds of cohesive guitar riffs “Father Of Fate” gains a quasi ominous strength definitely amplified by the raw energy expressed by the growls in contrast with the evident melancholia of the smooth guitar melodies and the darkened clean vocals. 

The wintry delight of “Like Screams In Empty Halls” is symbolized once again by the guitar melodies inducing an instant heartache and the overdose of lovable dark tonalities further enhanced by the sultry vocal delivery in perfect gothic fashion while the sinister doom elements add some thrilling heavier momentum. 

Like a memorable melancholic hymn “A Sleeping Throne” closes the album sincerely channeling all kinds of somber feelings through the perfect dosage of darkly sentimental vocals and gloomy melodic guitars in the midst of aptly nostalgia infused atmospheres. 

A bittersweet romanticism that belongs to the decadent themes of gothic metal enriches the mature songwriting approach of “Bleeding The Stars” which certainly represents a triumphant comeback for Lacrimas Profundere showing also that the band is still driven by an appealing creativity and therefore has a lot to offer in the midst of the ever changing metal scene. 

With a twenty seven years career German gothic metal band Crematory has rightfully earned a solid status in the metal scene and the new album “Oblivion”, which also happens to be the fourteenth release in the prolific band’s discography, comes with loads of melodic hooks and cohesive creative force.

Starting with triumphant symphonic layers “Salvation” swiftly embraces a catchy darkened groove as tight guitar riffs and Felix’s signature deep growls take the lead and while the primary core maintains a gothic mood the chorus of clean soothing vocals and easy melodic guitars provide widely accessible tonalities.

On “Until The Dawn” sumptuous keyboards arrangements ensure a solemn beginning that will lead to another round of darkly entertaining grooves as guitars continue to shift from classic metal riffage to bright melodic moments enhanced by emotionally charged vocal harmonies.

A dark melancholy immediately sets the mood on “Wrong Side” with lovely keyboards melodies that will recur throughout the song’s guitar driven subdued grooves to amplify such goth infused vibes while inspired somber vocals are mixed to a fair dosage of powerful growls.  

“For All Of Us” aims to become as accessible as possible favoring a symphonic approach where keyboards dominate the song’s structure providing polychromatic layers to surround & support the catchy and certainly radio friendly chorus that again focuses on a particularly emotive vocal delivery nevertheless you still get to hear Felix’s enraged growls marching fiercely through the melodic guitars and occasional inflamed riffs.

“Immortal” favors electro arrangements with a futuristic danceable attitude that embellish the main catchy rock elements and inevitably generates positive energy while Felix’s growls continue to channel the darkest elements of Crematory’s classic songwriting style.

The title track showcases a mellower melancholic side but still delivers successfully a gothic tinged rock groove diligently built by crunchy guitar riffs and menacing growls further embellished by a wide array of modern electro accents before a crispy clean chorus steals the spotlight channeling darkened emotions with a pleasantly poignant vocal performance followed by polished guitar melodies.

“Demon Inside” is definitely one of the heaviest tracks on this album confidently drawing inspiration from old school gothic metal with Felix taking the spotlight to deliver massive diabolical growls over steady darkened guitar riffs but a graceful melodic essence will gain the spotlight with luminous orchestrations.

In all these years we got used to marvelous songs by Crematory and despite the various line up changes “Oblivion” conserves the band’s quintessential gothic style and is another strong effort that deserves to be listened loud on repeat to simply delight the band’s loyal fans but also conquer the heart of new acolytes.

Oblivion