Lovelorn [Enhanced]

Theatre Of Tragedy truly lost an amazing part of their lineup when singer Liv Kristine decided to move on and form "Leaves Eyes". The band is comprised of the members of Atrocity, along with her Husband Alexander Krull and the end results are simply extraordinary. "Lovelorn" is both a passionate and moody piece of music and it crosses the lines of what is considered Gothic Metal and that which has been labeled as Atmospheric Metal. Both genres offer an appeal that is best heard over being explained however if you enjoy Theatre Of Tragedy's music you will most probably enjoy this new band.

Originally I was not sure what to expect of the piece yet as it

started off with "Norwegian Lovesong" I quickly found myself getting deeper into the mood with which the band is setting you on. As you listen to Liv sing you will realize that she has one of the purest and most beautiful voices in Metal today. Her voice is softer than that of a Tarja Turunen who is more Operatic in style, yet I feel that fans of Nightwish will find some accessibility in this group as well. It is indeed great to see so many powerful women singers making Metal stronger and stronger each day.

Musically most of the songs are haunting and at times full of eerie melodies. There are a couple of songs that are heavier and speedier and these are "Oceans's Way" and "Temptation". Both utilize the Black Metal growls courtesy of Alexander Krull. These songs also prove that the band is not some brooding "Woe Is Me" Gothic act and the Black growls offer a sharp contrast to Liv's Angelic voice. It's a very effective mix which I found worked across the length of the CD. "Tale Of The Sea Maid" is a single suitable release and among my most listened to songs. There are even a few good ballads for the

fans of that stuff in "Amelie" and "Lovelorn". Both numbers are slow, with "Lovelorn" being the most atmospheric of the two. It was probably by listening to this track that the label came, but I found much more inside the rest of the CD.

Accompanying Liv and Alexander in the group are: Thosten Bauer (guitar), Mathias Rodere (guitar), Christian Lukhaup (bass), Moritz Neuner (drums/percussion). It is quite possible that the 6 member lineup adds to the fullness of the group. I really enjoyed the CD though wish there were more than two heavy numbers. Overall the band and this debut are interesting enough to recommend purchase. Earlier I drew an idea that Nightwish fans might like them, yet I feel this group falls more in line with that of Edenbridge and Within Temptation. Liv Kristine and Leaves Eyes offer you a realm of new possibilities with their Haunting Gothic styles.

The CD is available on Napalm Records. Check it out, you will be pleasantly surprised. There is also a video on this CD.

Teaming up with a completely fresh coat of musicians from husband's band Atrocity, Liv Kristine, former female vocalist for Theatre Of Tragedy, is now in a new group called Leaves Eyes and 'Lovelorn' is their impressive debut offering. It's no surprise their sound resembles that of early TOT but fear not as there are enough subtle differences between the two that you shouldn't have any trouble distinguishing one band from the other. Their melodies provide atmospheric soundscapes with melodic drum beats and guitar riffs that are at times ferocious but mostly mellow, and Liv Kristine's angelic singing accents the rhythms beautifully. When she opens her mouth to grace us with her heavenly voice it brings to mind a maiden of the sea, captivating us with her seductive siren songs which best describes the feel of this album as many of the lyrics include ocean-related themes.

For the most part I really think Krull's death growls are unnecessary but at least they are used for minimal effectiveness.

I purchased this album about 9 months ago, but it is easily the second most favorite disc in my collection, coming in second only to Vinland Saga, Leaves' next release after Lovelorn. I'd say this album isn't quite as finely crafted as Vinland Saga (speaking from a production standpoint), but that's hardly unique in the world of music. No one in the group was a newcomer to the industry with Lovelorn of course, but freshman efforts are often a little less finely tuned as the band discovers who they are, and what their musical contribution to the world will be. I only say this to explain why I think Vinland Saga is a little better; it does not detract from this 5-star album one iota.

A problem I have reviewing an album like this is that I always listen to it as a whole. Even though I've listened to it through, I hardly know any of the correct track names - Leaves' Eyes are one of those rare groups that actually make albums that are greater than the sum of their parts (i.e. even if there are some fantastic individual tracks, the sheer quality of the overall work exceeds them). "Ocean's Way" is one of my favorite songs, and the dichotomy between the voices of Alex and Liv is stunning. It, along with "tale of the sea maid" really energizes me, much like the tracks "Solemn Sea" and "The Thorn" on Vinland Saga do. Tracks "Lovelorn" "The Dream" and "For Amelie" are simply stunning in their simplistic beauty. There is no song on this album that I don't love, even though they really run the gambit from serene to energetic.

When I reviewed Vinland Saga, I hadn't listened to this genre of music enough to realize what a gem I had found. I stated 3 main complaints, which I'll echo here so as to refute myself, as it were. One was the presence of "death growls" even in limited form. However, I now realize that Alex's contribution are not just tolerable, but are necessary. They are utilized sparingly (3 tracks on this album, and 3 on vinland saga), and they specifically contrast against Liv's voice to create impressions upon the listener. When I hear them together on a track, I can almost imagine myself listening to a tale. It's a tale as told by Kristine, but with emphatic interjections from Alex, which combined have the listener whipping his or her head back and forth from one to the other, just waiting for more. In all, I now fully appreciate the male vocals in all of Leaves' Eyes work. Seeing them in concert made this all the more obvious, as I was truly shifting back and forth between their two vocal "perspectives." And what chemistry those two have!

Another criticism was Liv's part being made too "overtly operatic." However, I now realize that this is not the case at all. Liv's range is huge, and far be it from me to say she shouldn't be singing so high when it's filled with such passion. Her voice is what it is, and what it is, is beautiful ;) [As an aside though: let me here say that this band is by no means all about the lead vocals. After listening to Liv's work on Theatre of Tragedy, I realize that the whole package that Leaves delivers is what makes them great. The musical craftmanship is unparalleled, thanks mostly to the production work of Alex.]

My last criticism was that the songs simply end too abruptly. I still get a little annoyed by this, as the last note of almost every song sounds similar. But this is hardly something to be overly critical about. Besides, the quicker the ending is, the faster we get on to the next amazing track!

I've listened to or purchased albums by many groups in this genre, and having done so, it's a mystery to me how Leaves' Eyes isn't considered the pinnacle of female-fronted european goth metal. This is not to say that I don't love Lacuna Coil, Within Temptation, Nightwish, or that I don't enjoy some of the other (what I would consider) "lesser" groups of this ilk such as Darkwell, Edenbridge, Visions of Atlantis, Collide, Xandria, Elis, et al. But it's my honest opinion that Leaves' Eyes is on a whole different plane. I guess all you can do is find out for yourself.

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