My, what a lovely death metal band you're listening to! Ok, so maybe lovely isn't exactly the word to describe the latest Lament, but this is not your typical death.
The first noticeable thing about this cd is that the bass is mixed VERY prominently. The next thing you'll notice is that the bass is carrying the melody about half of the time! This is one of the most unique effects I've heard in a long time. A lot of the time here, the guitar more or less hangs in the background holding down the groove. In the forefront are the vocals, of course, but also the bass -- albeit played higher than normally to almost sound like a classical guitar at times -- playing a nice little melody that will stick in your head for days. Sure, there are times when it drops back to the less prominent place while the guitar reclaims the spotlight (sometimes for a nice melodic lead or a higher pitched melody, for instance), but those times end up seeming as much like the exception as the rule.
The other trick Lament plays on us is dropping the distortion from the guitar in the middle of a tune. The vocalist doesn't seem to notice, as he continues to grunt away unchanged. This one doesn't show up in every track, but it's frequent enough that you can't miss it.
And so Through the Reflection goes for most of the way through. It's a very cool sound they've put together -- I really like it more than this rating will indicate. Really, it's fantastic for about five songs, but eventually I become a critic again. There are tempo changes and different melodies in different songs, but nothing really changes -- there's not what one could call a dramatic moment on the disc. The prevailing tempo is almost always slow to mid (very similar to Ethereal Scourge in that aspect), and I feel like I've summed up what you can expect from the rest.
On the very last track we are treated to some very good female vocals and some Spanish lyrics, but by now it's too little too late. There's nothing at all bad or wrong with any track on this disc, you see, it's just that they continue to do the exact same things right time and time again. One of those cd's where I'd like to name a couple standout cuts, but really, nothing stands out.
This is a good cd, and if you're looking for something new and fresh in your death metal, this is certainly an album that I've never heard another band play. If they'd have just thrown in a couple of elements in tracks 2-7 that weren't in 1 and 8, I'd have loved to rate it up at about a 9, but eventually they pay the price for going to the well a couple too many times.
8/10
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #78Reviewed by Doug Van PeltThis trio of amigos de Mexico has returned with its second full-length album - Through The Reflection. Apparently, the band said, "Out with the thrash and in with the classic metal," cause this Chuck & Laurie Wilson production certainly captures that layered and distinct instrumentation that made the intro to Iron Maiden songs so fun to listen to. One ingredient the band kept in their recipe,…Art for the Ears 1999Reviewed by Marco PovervestThis band from Mexico was once known as Beheaded. I can't think of a name more unoriginal. In this world there have been many bands with such a name, over the years. Lament sounds way better. And the name fits with lyrics like: "In the reflection, all I can see is the vain face of loneliness. Hate reigns in my eyes. Fed by their anger." (The first verse of the titletrack). This sounds rather…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Chris KingThe thing that bothered many people about this band's first album, Tears of a Leper, was an unfulfilled threat of really brutal music, and the disparity between music and vocal delivery. That album was often referred to as death metal, but the progressive thrash on it had little to do with that genre besides the vocals. So how does their latest effort compare? Through the Reflection sees Lament…Dead Zine 1999Reviewed by D_ListerBeautiful death metal. That's how I described Lament in the Linkage department based on their first album Tears of a Leper, and that description remains perfect after having heard Through the Reflection. So many of the key reasons I love Lament are still present here including a completely innovative style new to even their old album. Having dropped down to a three piece until drummer Abel Gomez…Similar sounding releases
2001Brain:FAQBrainstorming
2003MortificationPower, Pain & Passion
1990Seventh AngelHeed the Warning
2005Pale HorseUntil the Last Seal Is Opened...
1996Zao / Through and ThroughTreadwater...
2005Living SacrificeIn Memoriam
