Lunatica - New Shores

March 13, 2009

Reviewer: Peter

An album that could pass for a movie soundtrack?  I know that I have heard this kind of thing before, but I’m not sure...oh, wait, I know now.  It was Edenbridge’s 2006 release The Grand Design.  Fast forward to now, and this time, it isn’t Edenbridge, although by listening to the new Lunatica album New Shores, it does sound familiar.  Sure, Lunatica has their own merits, but it takes quite a few listens to figure them out.

Lunatica has actually been around since 1998, but didn’t come to its current style of music until 2000, when they discovered the voice of Andrea Dätwyler.  New Shores is the band’s fourth effort and their first under the Napalm Records label.  The opening title track will immediately grab fans of Edenbridge, although the relative lack of grand moments will make people think that the music is a step too slow.  However, good music doesn’t always have to be rushed, nor does it have to sound big.  Great vocals can cover a lot of ground, and Lunatica has that in spades.  Dätwyler shows good range while staying within her abilities as a vocalist.  The backdrop for her talents is a sound that while composed well, its futuristic spin on things does slow things down a bit.  That is not to say that the album isn’t any good.  In fact, there are some good songs, mostly ballads, as “Heart of a Lion,” “Winds of Heaven,” and How Did It Come to This” fit into the category.   Seemingly, for the first half of the album, the band is just trying to feel its way and during the track “The Chosen Ones,” they find it.  However, that song is just one of the few truly fast songs on the album.  The latter half seems to be ballad-laden, with “My Hardest Walk” being the exception.  Of all of the ballads, the Dätwyler duet with former Asia vocalist John Payne on the song “Farewell My Love” stands out, for both the good and somewhat over the top reasons.  The good is that both vocalists work well together and the results are excellent.  The over the top reason is the group backing vocals that join in towards the very end of the song, which sounds needless, given the duet’s strong performance.  It should figure with Lunatica’s elaborate compositions that a tried and true producer of the “big” sounding albums should be helping to get the most out of the album.  That’s right; Sascha Paeth (Edguy, Kamelot) is behind the soundboard for this album.  Obviously, one listen won’t offer too much, but it takes many listens to truly find the desired things on the album.  One thing that could drive off a few people is the fact that most of the songs aren’t real fast, a result of the band thinking the compositions out; sometimes, just a little too much, as even the most cerebral of listeners will have to use more brain cells than usual.  Even with that, the music combined with some thoughtful lyrical content should give the listener something to digest for a while.

Upon first listen, it would be easy to dismiss New Shores as a weak and uninspired effort.  However, if you can muster the energy to listen to it a few more times, one can truly appreciate the work that Lunatica does on the album.  While some of the songs can be hit or miss, it is the vocals and the ballads that actually make the album worth the listen.  Fans of Edenbridge should give this band a listen.  Practicing patience will when listening to New Shores will reward the listener with an enlightened sense of self.

Release Date: February 27th, 2009
Label: Napalm Records

TRACK LISTING

1. New Shores
2. Two Dreamers
3. How Did It Come To This
4. The Incredibles
5. My Hardest Walk
6. Farewell My Love
7. The Chosen Ones
8. Heart Of A Lion
9. Into The Dissonance
10. Winds Of Heaven
11. The Day The Falcon Dies

Total playing time: 50:02

*By clicking "Submit" you agree to the following Terms of Use. You agree not to post any material that is obscene, slanderous, or threatening, or that may violate any law of your country of origin or the United States or of international law. Should you wish to restrict viewing of your email address by third parties, you must select "Hide My Email." You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Metal Psalter from any claims, actions, suits, damages, or other costs arising out of any breach of these Terms of Use.

*Comments: