By Grayson Hale
Following in the footsteps of some of the earliest exponents of the genre, Lacrimas Profundere have with Antiadore completely erased any memory of their death/doom beginnings. Like Anathema, Katatonia and Paradise Lost before them, Lacrimas Profundere have gradually matured into a sound that bears no resemblance to that which they started out playing.
Yet at the same time, the latest offering from the German foursome seems to have taken them full circle. Where ...And the Wings Embraced Us was a triumph with regards to atmosphere and variety, yet a letdown in the vocal department, so too does Antiadore present a similar disposition. The most obvious point of contention is Vitacca’s voice, which has a tendency at times to sound more whiny than desperate. While Christopher Schmid’s melancholic baritone perfectly complemented the group’s moody goth-metal on Filthy Notes for Frozen Hearts, Vitacca simply doesn’t possess the same charisma or tone to do the same on Antiadore.
The music itself retains Lacrimas Profundere’s signature gothic atmosphere, conjuring up images of tombstones, bats and seductive vampiresses, and it’s the one side of the band’s sound that hasn’t really changed. This certainly plays in their favour, allowing the more straightforward alt-rock elements to work well within the context of the album. The title track is a notable example of this, serving as one of the more impressive songs in the Lacrimas discography since Schmid’s departure. The weaker songs are undoubtedly those that become lost in trying to produce general catchiness and appeal, rather than allowing the atmosphere to do the work.
In short, Antiadore serves up mixed results. Many of the songs possess a certain charm that often excuses their shortcomings, but there is nothing truly spectacular on offer either. Regardless, this is perhaps their best work since Filthy Notes for Frozen Hearts and fans will likely be satisfied with the final product.
