MELTING SUN

LANTLOS are a Post-Metal band out of France and this is their fourth studio album. Gone are the extreme vocals of previous works as the vocals we do get sound reserved and off in the distance. I suppose they mixed them a little lower on purpose. Neige from ALCEST joined the band doing the vocals on their second and third recordings but there was a mutual parting of the ways before this album. Love the cover art by the way along with the song titles.

"Azure Chimes" opens with picked guitar but it turns powerful rather quickly. This is dark and melancholic. A guitar starts playing a melody over top then we hear vocals for the first time 2 minutes in. I like this. Catchy stuff 4 minutes in as the vocals step aside. The calm before 5 minutes reminds me of KATATONIA early in their careers. It kicks back in again. Nice. "Cherry Quartz" opens with picked guitar and atmosphere then it kicks into gear at 1 1/2 minutes. It settles back but it's still heavy until we get a calm 3 minutes in. It kicks back in again at 5 minutes then the vocals arrive before 6 minutes. I like the tone of the vocals here.

"Aquamarine Towers" is dark with distorted guitars early on. It turns powerful before 2 minutes and vocals follow sounding off in the distance. This is mostly instrumental though. I like hearing the guitars play different lines on "Jade Fields". Lots of atmosphere too. Vocals before 3 minutes. A calm late as it blends into "Oneironaut" where this calm continues with lots of atmosphere throughout. "Golden Mind" is a drifting and melancholic track with reserved vocals. I like how the atmosphere turns louder later on.

If your into melancholic down-tuned guitar led music this is worth a shot. 3.5 stars as I can't pull the trigger on 4 stars.