L'âme Immortelle
Namenlos

After two albums released by Gun Records, LAI return to Trisol, which published the famous "Dann Hab'Ich Umsonst Gelebt" that brought the group success. "Namenlos" (whose title comes from the little-known cemetery of the nameless in Vienna) is a successful mix of all the influences of the Austrian combo, namely a solid gothic rock prominently featured, a noticeable electro-dark, and a touch of neoclassical à la Persephone. The album consists of 13 tracks in total, of which three are interludes (the intro "Vergessen" is truly interesting, where Sonja sings a cappella a prayer in German, the other two are negligible in my opinion). The album opens with "1000 voices", an electronic track embellished only by Thomas's screaming, which, despite the aggressive and almost harsh-ebm tones, remains very catchy. For "Behind The Light" imagine Persephone slightly more rock, with a chorus that captivates from the first listen thanks to Sonja's sensual voice. After the rock of "Bleib", we find one of the few duets present on the record, namely "Requiem", a compelling song seasoned with electronic elements. With "Blutrot" we are always in rocky contexts but this time enriched by soft string melodies, while "Reborn" is one of the few tracks that leaves one indifferent. We arrive at the highlight of the entire album, impossible to resist the urge to dance, "Es Tut Mir Leid" is a track made for the dancefloor, a duet that marks the best performance of the two singers and features one of the most engaging choruses of the album. S-T-U-P-E-N-D-O. Eerie whispers lead us to "Niemals", one of the most dramatic pieces and also among the best of the album. The album closes with "The Cleansing", an electro-pop piece, and with "Namenlos" where the influences of Persephone dominate, thanks also to the beautiful use of strings, and caress the melancholic final duet. From the second disc present in the limited edition, I feel inclined to recommend only the unreleased "When The Sun Has Ceased To Shine" and the covers by Anthoni Jones and Spiritual Front (the latter is much better than the original :-)).

All in all, LAI return with a great album, absolutely worthy of their early successes, finally finding their balance without giving up their original style and calibrating the new elements. Add a stunning artwork, made of aquatic suggestions and forbidden glades, and you will have a product that will hold many surprises for the group's lovers and beyond. A requiem rises for those who have lost not only life but also their name.

Namenlos...Wir Bleiben Hier
Namenlos...Wir Treiben Hier.