Artist: Lyriel
Title: Leverage
Type: Album
Label: AFM
I heard and reviewed Lyriel’s 3rd full length album ‘Paranoid Circus’ which came out in 2009 on Femme Metal Records and shortly after got invited to cover it again via AFM. It was hardly difficult putting two and two together that the German band had obviously been doing something right and found themselves signed to the bigger label for a reissue of the album and future efforts. Obviously not wanting to rest on their laurels the group have not wasted any time putting together their next release, in fact hardly a year has passed between them.
I think it is fair to say the group are not really that well known over here. The one claim to fame of any note is that singer Jessica Thierjun and cellist Linda Laukamp contributed on Xandria album India. I found the last album a rather soothing affair, mellow and with a certain kind of whimsical feel about it and one that bordered on the rock rather than the metal side of things. I wasn’t expecting a huge difference here and have not found one on the whole either.
After a ticking clock, whispering countdown intro, the album’s title track bangs in with heavy drums and then gets its rock on bolstered by the singers inviting vocals which are at this point in English. The song is strong on melody and quickly gets you nodding along and even wanting to get the lighter out and hold it aloft. This is typical Eurovision flair, the type of song which should be entered in the competition but is just that bit too ballsy. Nothing wrong with it at all and the carefree vibe of the last album is certainly continued. A Celtic flair and gypsy vibe is strong on ‘Parting’ which for me is a jolly jig and a standout moment on the album. The folk element is really strong as is the chorus and it kind of makes you want to get up and join in Riverdance style. The good thing about this is that vocalist Jessica sounds completely natural, there is nothing forced here and no attempts to hit operatic highs that are out of range. The metallic element does get stronger as there is a bombast about the jagged guitar riffing on songs such as ‘Voices In My Head’ but it is the vocals that I keep finding myself drawn back to here.
By contrast there is nothing gentler and light than heartfelt acoustic ballad ‘The Road Not Taken’ it really is quite gorgeous although it is bound to be a bit too sweet and sugary for all tastes.
Having sung in English a couple of tracks change into the group’s native tongue and this does not really hamper the enjoyment of it all, even if I am no longer au fait with what they are singing about.
Leverage is a fairly short album at just over half an hour but has a lot of ideas running through it, even surprising with a male accompanying vocal towards the end. As the late great Douglas Adams would have said this is ‘mostly harmless’ stuff but if you go in not expecting to be knocked off your feet there is little to complain about here.
(6/10 Pete Woods)
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