A CRIMSON COSMOS

LAKE OF TEARS are down to a three-piece on this their third album. Although there are four guests who help out on keyboards, vocals and guitars. I should mention they thank THE GATHERING among others in the liner notes. Most list them under the Gothic genre, although i would say that's a bit of a stretch on this album. Mind you the lyrics gravitate in that direction. Some compare them to fellow Swedish greats KATATONIA, but KATATONIA are much better (more dynamic and darker).

"Boogie Bubble" opens with a bass line and spoken words before a full sound including organ comes in. Vocals follow. "Cosmic Weed" opens with this riff that builds as vocals join in. "Come let's try some cosmic weed". A nice heavy sound to this one. "When My Sun Comes Down" is slower paced but still powerful. Organ in this one as well. "Devil's Diner" has a chorus that the whole family can sing to (haha).This is fairly catchy and uptempo. Piano in this one too. "The Four Strings Of Mourning" has a nice heavy rhythm to it including chunky bass as the guitar then vocals come in. A good guitar solo before 3 1/2 minutes.

"To Die Is To Wake" is an instrumental and my favourite. Psychedelic organ to open as the wind blows. Guitar and drums join in. A fuller sound after 1 1/2 minutes then the tempo picks up a minute later with the guitar playing over top. "Lady Rosenred" has both male and guest female vocals. Good sound with drums and bass. "Raistlin And The Rose" has a good beat with vocals. Synths in this one too. A calm 4 minutes in to the end. "A Crimson Chaos" has this laid back sound with reserved vocals.Then a catchy melody comes in around a minute as the tempo picks up. Contrasts continue.

Good album but the best is yet to come with the follow up "Forever Autumn".

With "A Crimson Cosmos", Lake of Tears became the band they are today!

Leaving behind their most hard and gothic years, after two worthy albums (specially the great "Headstones"...) the band came back like a trio, and renowing their musical style. The growls were gone, and they were replaced by the special Daniel Brennare's clean voice, wich fit perfect with the new dominace of keyboards, and 70's influences. Of course they have the usual collaborations of all their albums, being the Magnus Sahlgren (who is a full member of the band today...) a specially importantant contribution to the band's renewed sound.

The album has a lot of Lake of Tears classics, like the prodigious Boogie Bubble, the beautiful When My Sun Comes Down, and the frenetic Devil's Dinner. In this album can heard the style that we the fans of Lake of Tears like the most, being one of the most special gothic metal bands out there. Although their best moment was still yet to come with the masterpice "Forever Autumn".

Best tracks: Boogie Bubble (one of the most genuine tracks of the band...), When My Sun Comes Down (great gothic and melancholic song...), Devil's Diner (funny keyboards, and very ingenious lyrics...), Lady Rosenred (this theme could have been made in the 70's... I love the lyrics too, they are like a trip of acid) and A Crimson Cosmos (another marvellous, psychedelic song...)

Conclusion: although this band is not prog, I strongly recommend their music... This mixture of nordic gothic metal, pop keyboards, and a lot of 70's influences is fine and very very catchy. Once you start to hear this band, you will not be able to stop. And "A Crimson Cosmos" is one of the peaks of their career, only surpased by the impressive "Forever Autumn".

My rating: ****1/2