Artist: Lilitu
Label: The End Records
Release Date: 9/14/04
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Title: The Delores Lesion Artist: Lilitu Label: The End Records Release Date: 9/14/04 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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3 | ||
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3 | ||
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3 | ||
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Abyss's Review:
Unfortunately, the most interesting aspect to Lilitu is not their sound, but rather where they're from. Much like the Swedish band Insision sounds like they were spawned from the swamps of Florida, Lilitu sounds like they hail from Scandinavia. Whoever listens to them will invariably be surprised to find out they're American (by way of Georgia no less).Lilitu play a version of the post-Gothenburg melodic metal that In Flames and Soilwork have been putting out for their last few albums. Of course, if you're like me, you've been very disappointed with the recent direction those bands have taken recently, and there's only so much excitement you can generate over another band jumping on the bandwagon. And while The Delores Lesion definitely doesn't excite me, to be fair, they have put out a very solid record.
"One word review: Solid." While the band started as a female-fronted gothic/dark metal thing in 1995, the band has changed members and styles a few times in the years since. The Delores Lesion, aside from having a title that makes my dick itch, utilizes the full sound we've come to expect from bands in this genre. Female and clean vocals are interspersed throughout the disc, complementing the angry growls that constitute the bulk of the vocal delivery. There are also strings and synths that drape around the songs, thickening their sound in the good parts, but diluting their power in weaker parts.
Just like what happened with In Flames and Soilwork before them, the clean vocals will either send you running or seal the deal for you. I find this album to be more successful than both Figure Number Five and Reroute To Remain, but less of an adrenaline shot than Damage Done. And that's probably the most accurate description I can give. If there's room in your collection for an album that falls in between those mentioned, Lilitu will probably fit in quite well.
I feel this record starts off stronger than it finishes, and with that being said, I'm sure I'll return to the first few tracks whenever I'm in the mood for this sort of thing, but this is definitely an album for fans of the genre only. On the other hand, the nationalistic part of me doesn't know whether to be proud that America finally has a band like this that can compare to the Europeans, or be embarrassed by the fact that they came almost a decade too late. One word review: Solid.
Death's Review:
This is pretty decent Swedish melodic death metal. Even though the band is actually from Georgia, you'd never know it from a casual listen. These guys obviously worship at the altar of In Flames, Dark Tranquillity and Soilwork, although they do incorporate original elements as well. All in all, I find the album very good, notwithstanding the fact that it is slightly inconsistent in overall songwriting quality, most likely stemming from a desire to be "diverse" and somewhat original. It's a bit of a "catch 22" I admit. For example, the opening track, "Only the End of the World Again" is kick ass modern, upbeat melodic death, but yes, you've heard it all before. As the band gets more adventurous, they also lose me a bit I'm afraid (although I really dig song titles like "Even the Vultures Have Moved On"). Some of you surely will devour this - there is good production, good packaging and all of the respect for the metal art form that you expect from a release from The End Records. It's hard to say anything negative about this, and although it doesn't always grab me, check it out if you are inclined toward arty, gothy Swedish death.
"It's a bit of a 'catch 22,' I admit."
Hel's Review:
The End Records brings us Lilitu, a band that they have classified as "Melodic Dark Metal." Basically, to speak in the broadest terms, think of music created by certain Swedish melodic death bands, and add a blackened style scream and lots of keyboards. Now, you're getting the idea. Perhaps the most intriguing thing about them is that they come to us from Georgia, since historically most bands with this sort of sound tend to be from somewhere in Europe. Add to that the fact that this is their fourth release, and I, for one, am wondering how it could be that I have never heard of this band before now.
"On the whole, this is a pretty enjoyable effort." On the whole, this is a pretty enjoyable effort. There are a few downsides, however. The forays into a male clean vocal line are extremely unfortunate, making them suddenly sound like a bad emo band, and while the occasional female vocals are better, I could certainly live without them. I have yet to decide if it is the emo vocals that make it seem this way, but some of the tracks give me a the-kind-of-hardcore-I-don't-like vibe, and these moments cause my enjoyment of the album to take a dive.
I'm also finding that the more I listen to the album, the more reservations I have about it. I think doing away with the slightly whiny male clean vocals would do wonders for the overall quality of the record. And now that I have comparisons to second rate emocore bands stuck in my head, it seems that I cannot shake that impression, but if you like this style and are in the mood for something heavier than you usually find in bands of that ilk, then you may really dig this album. In the end, I find myself undecided about how much I like the record. It has provided me with some entertainment, and is a well put together effort, but is not necessarily what I'm looking to listen to.
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