Lacrimas Profundere - The Grandiose Nowhere

April 27, 2010

Reviewer: Peter

When it comes to the romantic side of Gothic metal, most bands seem to fall a little flat in their approach.  I am not sure what it is about it that causes it to be that way, but some possible reasons include the rather clichéd “Beauty and the Beast” dual vocals and vocals that seem to have no life.  For a while, it seemed that Lacrimas Profundere was destined to stay in the latter.  However, the band appears to have finally found the “on” switch with their latest offering The Grandiose Nowhere.

Lacrimas Profundere is one of those bands that never really stays on the radar for long, despite having been a band since 1993.  The vocalist situation has been remarkably consistent, given that they have only used two vocalists in their existence.  However, the rest of the lineup has been a picture of instability, which would obviously affect the music in some way.  The vocalist change happened in 2007, which explains the life that the band suddenly has in the vocal department, as evidenced on songs such as “Be Mine in Tears” and “A Plea.”  As such, the music also picks up a little, as evidenced on “The Letter,” which makes it easier for people like me to get into the band.  For all of the improvements that the band makes that help in attracting new fans, they can’t really shake the romantic Gothic metal label, which will keep some people away, based on label alone.  The extra-curricular stuff that the vocals do, such as the laugh and scream on “Lips” come off as rather robotic and don’t really help the band out, but aren’t really a major distraction either.  The music is guitar driven, which offers little in the way of originality, but offers enough to at least, give the band a sense of identity.

Overall, The Grandiose Nowhere is a step up in the Lacrimas Profundere sound.  However, the band still has a long ways to go if it wishes to extend beyond its core fan base.  That isn’t to say that the band is too old to learn new tricks, or at least, figure out what works and stick with it.  On previous albums, the vocals were often the weak point of Lacrimas Profundere albums, but on The Grandiose Nowhere, it is actually a strength.  It is too bad that there is still much to do before Lacrimas Profundere can break the plane of respectability outside of its own fan base.

Release Date: April 30th, 2010
Label: Napalm Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Be Mine In Tears
2.  The Letter
3.  Lips
4.  I Don't Care
5.  Her Occasion of Sin
6.  A Plea
7.  Not for Love
8.  The Fear of Being Alone
9.  My Little Fear
10.  Side
11.  Dead Heart Serenade
12.  No Matter Where You Shoot Me

Total playing time:  42:24

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