Lullacry
Crucify My Heart

THE REVIEW

I wonder why so many persist in criticizing certain bands because they are not considered gothic enough, and others because they are deemed light-years away from heavy metal. Encountering a band like this, some might bring up gothic metal. It's a pity that in this case, we are facing a completely different type of music. I would like to make it clear to many last-minute listeners that the presence of a female voice is not always synonymous with a gothic flavor within any musical genre related to the sphere of metal.

This is the case with Lullacry, a Finnish band which, coming off a history that was rather disastrous, underwent a significant line-up change in 2003 affecting the sound they proposed. The vocalist Tanja, making her debut with the album "Crucify My Heart", with her pop-rock vocal style, perfectly complements the musical textures created by the four bandmates, always heavy and linked to a certain Scandinavian gothic-rock style (Him, The 69 Eyes, Sentenced) yet reworked with the intention of creating a pure heavy metal sound that would not be out of place in certain radio or television schedules. Lullacry perfectly achieves their intended goal without ever stooping to tacky moves meant to secure easy chart success, such as the inclusion of glossy ballads filled with cloying, gratuitous sweetness.

Here we are then with a gripping "Don't Touch The Flame", the rock-oriented title track, the lovely "Unchain", where the band presents itself as a female version of the more inspired Him (a small nod to the gothic-rock so popular in Finland), and "Every Single Day", which brings to mind the latest Flowing Tears (another band for which the initial discussion applies here), which are only some of the good moments of this platter, sealed by a very meticulous production that never highlights the vocals, but especially the instruments. The attention wanes slightly with the last three tracks, which are less varied and engaging than the previous ones; nonetheless, the work done by the guitarists is truly excellent, as they never miss a beat throughout the album, often offering captivating solos. Also, unlike what often happens in metal, the bass is never relegated to the background; on the contrary, it often takes center stage.

A powerful and melodic album, certainly commercial but without high pretensions and without weak points, composed solely of songs that are pleasant to listen to and suitable for a wide range of contexts and listeners.