Lake Of Tears
Moons And Mushrooms

Lake Of Tears have always remained "in the shadow" of success: many have described them as "anonymous," lacking the verve that captures the fans' favor, as groups like Nightwish and Stratovarius have managed to do (just to stay in Scandinavia). The sound of Lake has been indicated as lacking in elements capable of assuming a characteristic that can emerge. Opinions that I agree with to a certain point, because upon reviewing the discography of the band from Borås (Sweden), one can notice how the group has multiple times attempted a change in direction: whether they succeeded or not, this does not alter the fact that Lake Of Tears have tried. The doom of their beginnings, in fact, has faded into a gothic rock/metal with easy but never predictable nuances, made of melody and characterized by the raspy voice of Daniel Brennare, the founder of the band.

For all the above-mentioned reasons, Lake Of Tears have never achieved significant notoriety, despite deserving it. However, this has allowed them to continue a career on tracks suitable to the band that never decided to "sell out." A perfect example is the album "Moons and Mushrooms" from 2007. It follows "Black Brick Road," unanimously considered their best work: Brennare's group and company could have easily settled into the much-desired "notoriety," exploiting clichés, critics' favors, and the series's amenities.

If "Black Brick Road" was liked for its rhythmic cadence, dark atmospheres, and a substantial cooling of sounds, "Moons and Mushrooms" stands out for more marked power, capable of further exploding in "Illwill," released a few months ago. What echoes the previous CD is the darkness of the sounds, as can be seen from the cover's dark tones, as well as from a vague sense of psychedelic hard rock that softens the abrasive sounds of the guitars. The initial "Last purple sky" is the most glaring example: yet already from "You better breathe while there's still time", there is the sensation that the style of Lake is too immobile on precise coordinates, as if Brennare fears opening new horizons. Here lies the main flaw of a disk good under the strictly qualitative point of view, but lacking under the compositional one. The formula is well-oiled but at times too stale, and the excellent ballad "Like a leaf" is not enough to elevate a CD that is born with the label of adequacy. "Island earth" stands out for a different and more engaging rhythm, but overall, the tracks of "Moons and Mushrooms," while enjoyable, never leave a mark: it is difficult to find the "hit," and the sensation is that of an unfortunately negative superficiality.

Lake Of Tears is a noteworthy group, there is no doubt about this, but listening to them for a while, I have formed my impression of their career: the best shots they had to fire have already been fired, and Brennare and his friends are now heading towards an inexorable decline. It seems that Lake Of Tears is a "wish I could but can't": a band that always seems to have the handbrake on. If they haven't yet made the quality leap, the one capable of launching them definitively, the sensation is that Lake will no longer succeed.

1. "Last Purple Sky" (6:02)
2. "You Better Breathe While There's Still Time" (4:12)
3. "Waiting Counting" (4:39)
4. "Like A Leaf" (5:05)
5. "Children Of The Grey" (4:33)
6. "Head On Phantom" (4:27)
7. "Island Earth" (5:04)
8. "Planet Of The Penguins" (6:25)