YAISHI

There's a change in direction on MOONLIGHT's fifth studio album as Maja sings it all in English instead of Polish for the first time. Also there is a more commercial flavour to their sound. All this is an attempt to gain some headway in the music business of course. A new bass player is on board as well.

"Yaishi" has some good atmosphere with those synths as maja sings "Betrayal is sister of love". It's interesting to be able to read their lyrics for the first time. Obviously I have had no idea what Maja had been singing about on all the previous albums. A fuller sound before 1 1/2 minutes then it settles again as contrasts continue. Great sound 3 1/2 minutes in as riffs take over. "Col" is a song about sex. Okay maybe it was good that I didn't understand what she was singing about before (haha). The female groaning is too much which is unfortunate because there are some outstanding moments on this one. "Ergo Sum" is laid back as vocals join in. Very smooth but the lyrics are again really suggestive. "At The End Of Our Days" is heavy duty early then it settles with vocals. It's heavy again as contrasts continue. "A Story To Forget" is better when it kicks in but i'm not a big fan of this one.

"Scent" has this experimental intro with drums. Guitar comes in followed by soft vocals as it settles. It kicks in again. Vocal melodies and heaviness 3 1/2 minutes in then piano takes over with drums to the end. "Meren- Re (Rapsod)" is my favourite. Synths wash in as vocals and bass join in. A beautiful sound. "Jesugej Von Baafur" fetaures heavy drums and synths as vocals join in. It's better 1 1/2 minutes in with riffs. "(Infinity)" opens with piano as whispered vocals join in. This is slow moving. A fuller sound after 2 minutes but it's brief. It's back 3 1/2 minutes. "Nothing" again opens with piano as reserved vocals join in. It kicks in after a minute. Not a fan of this one. "Gebbeth" has this beat with bass then vocals. A fuller sound 2 1/2 minutes. Great sound a minute later.

3 stars from me on this one. Plenty of good passages on this one but lots that don't do a lot for me as well.