Customer Reviews

Whispers In Rage

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This CD is a must for any fan of the industrial/gothic/electronic genre! After reading a review of this group in a magazine, I had to check out some of their music, and I'm very glad that I did!

Vocalist Jeff Diehm reminds me a lot of the male vocalist for the Cruxshadows, as do their trancy, hypnotic electronic beats. However, some of their songs (Rage being an example) have driving guitar beats that are reminiscent of goth metal bands such as How Like A Winter, or Type O Negative. The lyrics are at times melancholic, intense, introspective, whimsical, and intelligent all wrapped up in one fluid movement within this CD. The electronic elements are used to great effect on all of their songs, and never overpower the other musical and vocal elements.

Some of the standout tracks include:

Track 1 "Nightmares": Driving guitar, trancy beats, and lyrics that speak of living a nightmarish life enduring reality.

Track 4 "Whisper": Intense vocals, backed up by mostly electronic beats.

Track 8 "Frozen": Slightly less emphasis on synth beats (though they are still there), and more guitar. Great lyrics that speak of being frozen in the darker side of life.

Track 12 "Silently She": Slower and slightly more contemplative and disconsolate than some of their other songs on this CD. Excellent, chilling vocals backed up by synth beats, a cello, and a violin.

Sadly, Ivan Dominguez, The Last Dance's drummer and friend, died unexpectedly. The song "51501" includes Ivan's drumming and some talking, and this is the band's tribute to their fallen friend. Ivan's drumming can also be heard on the awesome tribute cover of "Dead Man's Party" by Oingo Boingo. Many of the lyrics on the rest of the album depict the emotional loss of this band member, yet The Last Dance accomplishes this without ever being too dark or morbid.

I highly recommend this album to anyone who can appreciate excellent, lushly textured gothic rock, gothic metal, and industrial music, as The Last Dance offers a little bit to fans of all these genres. You will not be dissapointed!

This is my first time I have ever heard of The Last Dance, not to mention their music. I didn't know what to expect from them. I have to admit that it took me a few listens for the music to grow on me. Now that I have allowed the music to grow on me, I must say that I like this band and their cd "Whispers in Rage" quite a bit. The band kinda reminds me of Bella Morte but with more synthesizers and less guitars. The first track "Nightmare" is easily one of my favorite tracks off the album with its hypnotic trance-like beats. This track was an immediate favorite of mine. "Rage" is one of the songs that I had to listen to over and over for it to grow on me. Overtime "Rage" has become another favorite track. I can hear and feel the emotion that Jeff Diehm puts into his vocals on this song. I absolutely love "Wonderlust" with its pulsating synthesized melodies and the wall of guitar riffs. It is one of the catchier songs on the album. This song could have easily come out of the '80s with its new wave hooks. The album isn't perfect by far. The music didn't grab me right away. It took me a few listens for it to sink into me before reviewing the album. Some of the songs were longer than they should have or simply should have been left off the album like the last two tracks "Silently She" and "51051". Otherwise I dug "Whispers in Rage". I thought it was a good introduction to the band for this new fan.

A friend of mine when to Cornerstone Festival this past year and came back with this cd. I'm so glad he introduced me to this. I love that it has a dancy vide but yet still dark. Goth and industrial music has started becomming my favorite genres over metal bands. This is sorta a mix of both. WWW.Flamingfish.com carries lots of stuff simular to this. I recommmend their Automata mix cd's to get introduced to more stuff like this.

My 14 year old daughter turned me on to The Last Dance and while I loved this CD....I was totally blown away after we saw them live at the Key Club in Hollywood. They sound so solid live and the lead singer has one of the best voices I have ever heard. They do not dissapoint live, and I agree with the earlier review, they are some of the nicest guys we have ever met in the music industry. If you like beautiful, hypnotic music, this is for you. I am an older goth lover from the 80's into Joy Division, Bauhaus and The Cure and they are the best modern goth band I have heard.

i wasn't a huge last dance fan until i heard this album and now i'm hooked. track 4, whispers, is my favorite song thus far. it is emotional and driving, perfect for blaring in my car going down the interstate. i really like their cover of dead man's party too, though it is the best live. this is my favorite album by them, and now i've begun to look into their older albums. the last dance is awesome live and the bandmembers are the friendliest people i've ever met. i can't wait till my next tld show!

~najla~

This album rocks. Kind of a combination between a dark Depeche Mode, Stabbing Westward, and Coal Chamber. Tons of talent here. I am really looking forward to hearing another album from these guys.

Whatever happened to 80's goth bands like Sisters of Mercy? With bands like the Last Dance, who the hell cares? This album illustrates as much creativity and darkness as any euro-goth band that came from the 80's. This band knows how to keep darkness alive, while utilizing an equilibrium of instruments that work together in melancholic harmony. It's hard to believe that this sound eminates from California. If you are thinking about purchasing this album, make it yours and join the dance.

First of all, I'm a HUGE TLD fan. I've been listening to them since 1997. I thought "Fairytales" was a breakthrough album. Huge guitar riffs, eclectic bass lines and thoughtful lyrics and a very lush production.
Next was "Perfect." They added some keyboards, which was cool. Still great rock music.
But "Whispers" really let me down. WAY too much keyboard. It sounds like dark disco. They actually sound like a harder edged version of The Cruxshadows. I don't know if it was pressure from their new lable to be more "danceable" or if the band felt that they needed to be dancey to be played in clubs but this reviewer doesn't care for that sound at all.
Bands do need to evolve and change their sound (after all only AC DC was able to get away with putting out the same album for 30 years) but The Last Dance lost the sound and feel that made them unique. I give this album three stars because the music is still good, but not up to the potential that they are capable of.

Definitely the next step for music as we know it!

This is on the bias of an 18y male who capitalizes on skinny puppy, tear garden, das ich, lacrimosa, tom waits.

I just saw Teh Last Dance last night in a tiny hole in Baltimore, i hadnt even heard of these guys before. They put out a very fulfilling no-bs performance, the lead singer (jeff diehm) wouldnt let anyone sit down (took their stools from underneath them), the guitar guy (rick joyce) had crazy fake dreads with fiber optic lights up in em.

But the point is that they have talent. This seems like no monumental statement at first blush, but i've heard a whole load of (goth, whatever) music and boatloads of the stuff is painful to listen to. The Last Dance sound is solid, with real melody and lyrics that are not at all stupid. I dont hear any new elements from this band, i just hear things i've heard before done right for a change. Its like cruxshadows without the stupid lyrics. A bit like london after midnight, without the stupid lyrics.

I've never heard any of their other cds, i'm listening to this one for the first time. For what its worth though, i am delighted to have a goth cd that doesnt make me feel dumber from listening to it.