MATRICIDE

As someone who likes La Tulipe Noire's previous albums, I was a little surprised(and happy) to see that after seven years they released a new album. And after several listens, I can say that this is really an excellent album. The subject matter, matricide, is not a pleasant one, and I was expecting a dark, gloomy album. Well, that is hardly the case.

The band has a new vocalist, a fine talented singer named Julie Massino. She has a great voice which fits this style of neo prog very well. The musicianship is excellent, with the guitars and keyboards at the forefront. Lots of great hooks here.

So, as good as this album is, why only 4 stars instead of five? Well, for one, all the songs are short, with the longest track coming in at 6:23. I always like to hear a well developed epic mixed in. In addition, a couple of the tracks suddenly fade out just as it seems they are getting going. Also, almost all of the songs are up tempo, so until you get used to the individual tracks, there is a certain sameness about them.

So, overall, this is really a fine album. It just could have been better.

This is over-the top, super serious neoprogressive rock from a band who probably listened to early period Marillion about 2000 times.

And I love it!!!

Usually this is not my cup of tea, but this greek band took me by surprise with their fantastic Nostimon hemar and I have been tearing my hair in wait for their new album. They do not dissapoint. These guys take themself really serious and their music is so pretentious as it can be, but somehow they pull it off. I love that the band goes all in with their music, no compromises here. There are lots of great chops and musicak passages to entertain the whole 59 minutes of great neoprogressive rock. There is a nice blend of guitar, keys and vocals who complement each other. Also their new singer is also a great addition to the music, one doesn't miss their old singer much when the music starts. Few bands make their music as interesting as La tulipe noire and I urge you to give them a try. Close the lights in the room, turn up the volume and let this band enter the stage. You will not regret it if you keep an open mind. Recommended!

I give the album a strong 4-star rating. Excellent album.

La Tulipe Noire's first album with new vocalist Julie Massino is a solid album in the tradition of Nostimon Hemar, its predecessor. As usual with La Tulipe Noire, the shadow of early Fish-era Marillion hangs heavy over proceedings, but by this point in their careers the band have become adept at making that sound their own and saying something new with it, having developed substantially over the Shattered Visage days. Massino turns in a credible turn as lead vocalist, and by and large in the seven years - the largest gap we've ever seen between Tulipe Noire albums - the band don't seem to have made any musical quantum leaps, but they've not gained much rust either.

I discovered La Tulipe Noire with this album, having (shamefully) not heard previous samples from them. "Matricide" is an enthralling concept about mother Earth and the way modern humans don't respect the natural course of events, from artificial food to nuclear weapons and war, ultimately leading to total destruction, being discovered by the main characters of the story in a future time.

The concept/lyrics (which must be followed along with the music to fully appreciate it) could come from a modern sci-fi movie but touches modern problems and concerns, which are conveyed in an almost apocalyptic manner through the course of the album, and this is where LTN succeed. The opening haunting, operatic, Latin-sung, 'A Letter from Patmos' sets the scene for what is about to follow: hyper-dynamic heavy Neo-prog, mostly based on a 4/4 tempo, with inspired lush-keyboards and raw female vocals by the surprising Julie Massino (most known to the Greek audience via her participation in a X-Factor type show (!) as a vocal teacher).

The ghosts of early Pallas, IQ and Marillion hang above Hyde's mighty keyboard lines, but LTN have taken this sound further and made it their own, although keeping it "rough around the edges", which boosts its character further; no jolly Neo-prog here. To this assist the heavy, almost metallic riffing of Marios and the harsh, yet strangely with a dose of neo-classical, vocals of Massino. Despite a tiny dip of interest towards the middle of the album (Radio Days I am looking at you) and a couple of unexpected fade-outs, the result is consistent and, above all, is a real musical proposal.

There are too many highlights to choose from an album that could have well served David Lynch in one of his sci-fi movies; essential for fans of heavy neo-prog, a near masterpiece.

4+ stars

What happend here? The sound is rude and heavy, what's disappointed! Being a big fan of La tulipe Noire i was curious about the new album, but im a bit disappointed about the new singer. She's not my cup of tea, because she tries to be too much aggressive and try to imitate the heavy metal timbre or some demoniac voice. The music continue the style of the previuos album, sometime is beautiful with excellents baroque keyboards passage, but when the new singer sings in that way i have to filter that voice with my equalizer! Progressive means a perfect balance between mellow and emotional parts and more energetic and heavy parts, but here the mellow parts are absent, so it's good just for heavy and metal prog fan. Not a sweet or mellow song here, neither a melancholic song like their 2 album, so i rate just 3 poor stars.