Customer Reviews

Lovelorn

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

I just want to say this:

Ocean's Way has one of the most captivating vocal segments, ever. Liv Kristine's voice is so completely mesmerizing to me. Yet her viking-esque husband interjects with demonic oaf growls during the chorus. Normally, this would completely destroy a song for me. But I can't ignore her voice. So I choose to deal with it. I do this by imagining the scene... Liv is an angelic maiden, singing on the bow of a ship as it courses through the cold night. And in the background, there's a demon-dragon that periodically soars from the ocean water and yells at her. It's an epic scene.

Buy the album if you're into beautiful melodic arrangement, mixed with power metal chords. Ignore the grunting jerk.

This has been one of my favorite CDs of 2004. And certainly one of the HEAVIEST albums I've heard in a long time - not "heavy" as in Slayer, Pantera, or Korn, but the kind you feel right in your gut - the production of the bass and de-tuned guitars hits you where you feel it, yet the album is melodic, often ethereal, and loaded with quiet keyboard and acoustic passages. Anyone looking for a Theatre of Tragedy sound here will be disappointed, though. This isn't GOTHIC so much as it is NORDIC. If "Lord of the Rings" had a heavy-metal soundtrack, this would be it, with lots of that "galloping" metal style pioneered by the likes of Iron Maiden. And Liv Kristine's voice, as always, is beautiful and angelic above all the pummeling. If you like the style of Within Temptation's "Mother Earth" album, then this is for you!

Some bands have something that's impossible to name. Within Temptation has an amazing ability to create a magical atmosphere surrounding their songs, and the same thing happens to Leaves' Eyes. Since the first time you hear the opening track (Norwegian Lovesong) you feel like you've begun to listen to one of those stories full with magic, princesses and warriors. This album gets better and better as you listen to it. Liv Kristine's voice fits every song perfectly, her lyrics are pure poetry, and the music makes you want to close your eyes and dream of you living the stories told in each song.
Some of the best tracks are Norwegian Lovesong, Ocean's Way, Secret, FOR AMELIE (one of the most beautiful ballads ever done, it makes you feel like crying every time you hear it), Temptation (probably the darkest song on the album), INTO YOUR LIGHT (the awesome first single, don't know if it was the only single released. The guitars in this song are magical!).
Get this album asap! I bought mine along with Vinland Saga (Leaves' Eyes second album) and didn't regret it. Actually I never ever felt this proud of buying two albums instead of just one (I was going to buy only Vinland Saga because I had a crush on Elegy, Vinland Saga's first single).

This was one of the best surprises for me this year as I had no idea who this band was nor listened to this genre much. A friend made me a mix cd and put Leaves Eyes on it and I was pleasantly blown away. I have listened to Nightwish and while I appreciate what they are doing, their 80s sound with a lot of songs that sound alike don't really captivate me the way this music does. The vocals alternate and flow between angelic singing to full operatic gusto as in the case of "Secret" one of my favorite songs. On "Secret" Liv's vocal notes at the start and end grow in an operatic crescendo that is spellbinding. All the while backed by a band that is as comfortable with soft flowing sounds as well as full blown hard rock. The music is wonderfully orchestrated and blended in a sound that will deliciously haunt your mind long after you listen! I can't wait to hear their newer albums.

As a major fan of Nightwish, Lacuna Coil and Edenbridge I thank Liv Kristine for adding her own magical talents to the world of music. From the first note of Lovelorn I was hooked, no run of the mill chords or lyrics here. Liv Kristine brings a magical quality to her voice ala Kate Bush. I recommend this album to anyone just getting into this type of music you wont be disappointed.

Anyone who has grown up by the ocean has a certain love affair with it that stays for a lifetime. In many ways, this album is a devotion to the sea and the mysteries that it holds. Not only do the songs tell a story, but the angelic vocals of Liv Kristine, the production of Alexander Krull, and the guitar and percussion mixes create an atmospheric metal experience that take us right to the shore.

"Norwegian Love Song" feeds beautiful images about growing up by the ocean. "Tale of the Sea Maid" is the most powerful track to me: a song about fantasies, of drifting away and being captured by the water. In "Ocean's Way," the waves pick up force and the tide grows stronger; a storm is coming through, literally. We hear Krull's growls for the first time, which seems to represent the darker forces of the ocean. "Lovelorn" is like a sweet voice in a breeze; something familiar we hear when we're lost and cold. The keyboard melody in this track contributes to the trance. In "The Dream," we feel the power of the seduction of an island: it's heavier with powerful percussion, and Kristine and Kull have an exchange of good and evil. "Secret" takes us on a wavy boat ride, serene with a deeper haunting quality to it--something precious has been lost in the ocean. "For Amelie," the lightest song on the album, is a devotion: it speaks of tender love within a give-take relationship, perhaps addressing a daughter. "Temptation," which also has growls intertwined, feels like demonic torture. Impressive percussion here, and the electric guitar shines. "Into Your Light" is a yearning to be taken into a safe place, with "Return to Life" as a perfect follow-up. This final song has the most repeated play for me, and I'm tempted to stick it to the end of every mixed CD since it has such a sense of closure. It's the end of a dream; the sea has washed its victim back to shore.

Now, about the growling. The first couple times Krull's voice crept into the songs, often at unexpected moments, I was turned off. Though after a few listens I began to understand its presence, I still think the contrast is disruptive to the album's atmosphere, devaluing the ethereal quality to the female vocals. There is already a dark haunting atmosphere present in the music itself that needs to speak for itself. I felt the same way about many Theatre of Tragedy songs, and I was thinking that Leave's Eyes would take a departure from that element. Still, its not enough for me to drop a star in the album's rating. Five enthusiastic stars!

Formerly of Theatre of Tragedy, Liv Kristine is not quite my favourite vocalist in the goth-doom metal style -- I give Tristania's Vibeke Stene a slight edge there -- but the release of this record by Kristine's new project Leaves' Eyes was still a nice surprise.

This record is slightly different from Theatre of Tragedy. There's more of a folk-song influence here, and strains of Medieval melodies and textures. Kristine's vocals are very similar to Rose Chronicles' Kristy Thirsk, a high, willowy croon in almost inhumanly high registers, and the rustic, mystical vibe is reminiscent of Blackmore's Night, or Lake of Tears on the Forever Autumn album.

It's a lovely sound, but it's also not all that varied a listening experience over 10 tracks. Orchestral metal tends not to be that versatile anyway, but I would've still liked to hear a little more of a mix of uptempo tracks and ballads. Also, Kristine's vocals are mixed a little too far back in the mix for my tastes, and I wish they could have done those string parts with a real string section rather than keyboards.

The best tracks are the heavily folk-influenced ones: The spritely tinklings behind "Secret" which almost sound like a harpsichord part; the dramatic Sturm und Drang of "For Amelie", with one of Kristine's most "lovelorn" vocals; title track "Lovelorn" is flat-out a Medieval ballad, and sweepingly beautiful; "Norwegian Lovesong" is mysterious and seductive up until those grinding guitars kick in, and "Ocean's Way" has one of Kristine's more operatic lead vocals on this record.

A dramatic and striking piece of music. Yes, this record only conveys one kind of mood, but it does that well.