My Fatal Kiss [Import]

Krypteria | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 5, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Indie Europe/Zoom
• ASIN: B002JE2KUI
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #158,645 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2009 album from the German Gothic Metal band led by Korean vocalist Ji-in Cho. This record elevates Krypteria's sonic intensity and lyrical identity to a whole new level. My Fatal Kiss is the first release on Roadrunner Records' new division On Fire.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars pucker up for Krypteria's Fatal Kiss . . ., December 18, 2009

By 

trebe - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: My Fatal Kiss (Audio CD)

If you enjoyed Bloodangel's Cry (2007), you will probably find much of My Fatal Kiss (2009) to your liking, as Krypteria's music retains many of the same elements. The tone seems to be a little less bleak, and the atmosphere less dark. Although there are some instances of operatic passages, the band seems to be taking a step in a less orchestral direction. That does not mean that Krypteria has gone soft, or is unwilling to take risks. The music is powerful, and there is still plenty of gloom and doom, it's just softened a bit, the sound less processed, and the tunes perhaps a little more catchy. The songwriting is tight, and the lyrics thoughtful, and at times obscure.

Guitarist Chris Siemons is adept at churning out cool heavy riffs, although his solos here are even more sparse than on Bloodangel's Cry. Ji-In Cho continues to grow as a singer, and the band seems to be exploring new sounds and recording techniques, some involving her vocals.

Most of the songs are midtempo, largely without the big epic sound of Bloodangel. While nothing is even close to 'mainstream', songs like Shoot Me, For You I'll Bring The Devil Down, and Never Say Die, are among the more catchy tunes the band has produced. The Freak In Me, is a dark adventure, with some cool robotic guitar, and orchestral vocals. There isn't an all out rocker on the album to match All Systems Go from Bloodangel's Cry. The closest is probably Head First Into a Sea of Flames, an energetic and dramatic number, complete with wild screams, and a fire engine horn. The touching and somber, God I Need Someone, a poignant ballad about contemplation, is familiar ground for the band. My Fatal Kiss, features some nice abrasive guitar, but like most of the songs, has no guitar solo. Chris Siemon's rhythm playing remains strong, and as solid as ever, however his solos are limited, and quite short. The piercing guitar solo on Why Did You Stop The World From Turning, is an indication of what the band could sound like, if they emphasized the instrument. Siemons is a very talented player who also produced the album, so perhaps Krypteria is looking to produce music that they can easily duplicate live. In concert, Siemons is typically occupied with mostly rhythm parts, which usually minimizes his lead work.

Bloodangel's Cry was a darker, edgier album. If you are into the heavy, dramatic, epic, somber side of Krypteria, stuff that raises the hair on the back of your neck, you may find My Fatal Kiss `upbeat'. On the other hand, if you thought the band was too gloomy, you might like this a little more. Oddly, the CD booklet includes the lyrics for only eleven of the thirteen songs, and contains the Latin proverb 'Dum Spiramus Speramus', which translates to, 'while we live we hope'. There is certainly reason to be optimistic regarding Krypteria, who are very talented. What direction they take next, will be interesting to see. Since the CD on Roadrunner Records presently seems to be available only as an import, you might try eBay for a better price.

As the track list is not currently provided, here it is:

1. Ignition
2. My Fatal Kiss
3. Why Did You Stop The World From Turning
4. For You I'll Bring The Devil Down
5. Deny
6. The Freak In Me
7. Never Say Die
8. Dying To Love
9. Shoot Me
10. God I Need Someone
11. Now (Start Spreading The Word)
12. Headfirst Into A Sea Of Flames
13. Too Late: Game Over & Goodbye

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Pop/Rock, Metal Not So Much, December 1, 2009

By 

philippe deroin (Gaithersburg, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Fatal Kiss (Audio CD)

How much you will enjoy Krypteria's new album depends on what you expect from the band.
Until now, the german group powered by Chris Siemons' relentless guitar and Ji-In Cho's tense and metallic vocals kept hesitating between two formats. One is a rather muscular pop outfit writing infectious, quasi-mainstream songs in the 4mn range dealing with personal issues, feelings or relationships like No More Lies and Save Me on 2005's In Medias Res or All Systems Go and Somebody Save Me on 2007's Bloodangel's Cry. The other flirts with Gothic or Symphonic Metal and produces bombastic, ornate songs like Victoriam Speramus, Quae Laetitia and Concordia on In Medias Res or The Night All Angels Cry and At The Gates of Retribution on Bloodangel's Cry.
In their first release for Roadrunner, Krypteria clearly choose the first format. This is a really good rocking album that tries at time to mask its choice (some choirs, some metal posturing) but has essentially made a decision similar to Lacuna Coil's in this year's Shallow Life. In both cases, this provides a very marketable album with almost no filler, where all the songs are strong and catchy. On the down side, one is also left with the feeling that the songs are often similar, if not derivative: more than once, I still expect Ji-In Cho to break into the chorus for "No More Lies"...
Therefore, if this mainstreamed version of Krypteria is what appealed most to you, you will enjoy everything on this album. If, however, you were more going for the Goth/Symphonic angle of the band, 2009 has produced much better fits, like Epica's Design Your Universe or Sirenia's The 13th Floor. And if you stand in between (say if you find Mark Jansen or Morten Veland's grunts a little too enthousiastic), the best compromise album of the year is probably Delain's April Rain
Choices, choices...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Settling In, April 22, 2010

By 

MO (Boulder, CO USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: My Fatal Kiss (Audio CD)

I started listening to Bloodangel's Cry liked it, then went back to Krypteria's earlier albums Liberatio and In Medias Res.

It's pretty clear Krypteria has been searching for a style and sound all their own. Liberatio is almost more of a demo album featuring various singers, tempos, and a style that is decidedly late 80's lounge or new age. Some songs in there that are heavy pop, but by and large cheesy.

In Medias Res moved away from the lounge a little and added some heavier more gothic stuff. A good amount of orchestra. Still cheesy but headed in the right direction.

Bloodangel's Cry is defintely leaning toward a more true to form gothic metal album with dark tone, more guitar, but still retaining a hint of pop. Not so cheesy but I'd argue it's not true metal. The band sounds like they are forcing the style. A little rigid sounding more like they're playing from a score with only a little practice vs. having a good time and being into the music. The vocals are the most refined part of the album.

My Fatal Kiss heads back toward a more pop vibe. Less orchestra, more heavy guitar, and catchy pop choruses and song structure. The band feels more relaxed, more emotional, and the vocals are a perfect complement. Again not a true metal album. Maybe a hard rock/pop album. But still very very good. I feel like the band has settled on style and signature that is all their own and it works.