Lacrimosa - Echos (2003)^{Release ID: 7717}

A nearly 13-minute orchestral darkwave overture is not how I’d prefer to start my METAL album, but the more one listens to this album in full, the more it becomes apparent that this is just barely a Metal album at all. Most, though not all, of the songs have electric guitars, but they are mostly just a supporting instrument, playing simple chords and not even featuring very prominently in the mix. The drums are similarly simple and never a focal point.

What IS a focal point are the orchestral compositions and vocal performances. And they are… good, mostly. Good. But not great. The compositions on this album are closer in style to the classical era of music. And I don’t mean this as a drag against the great masters like Mozart and Beethoven, but the classical era is a lot of sticking notes together that are in the same key, harmonize well, and evoke absolutely nothing.

The last thing I want from a Gothic Symphonic Metal record is a lack of emotion. But that’s really what this is – a few overblown songs with lush compositions and a bunch of notes that sound good together, but don’t really evoke anything. I want Gothic music to be sadder, more melancholic. But this leans more into the operatic side of the genre. The songs and soundscapes are epic, but again, the guitars and drums are usually quite boring, which makes it difficult to enjoy as a Metal album.

What about as a Classical album? Maybe it works? I dunno. I’m beginning to sound like a broken record, but I like my classical music to focus on mood and atmosphere, to highlight melodies that evoke something within me. Just not feeling that with this album.

It’s lush, and there’s a lot going on. Even the quieter moments are layered with soundscapes and melodies. I appreciate the compositions. With better drums and guitars, I may have really liked this. But the album is held back by the simplicity of the METAL aspect of it, despite the deep layering and complexity of the Classical elements.