Band:	Leiden
Album:	Dualité
Style:	Gothic metal, Electro industrial metal
Release date:	October 08, 2005
A review by:	Jeff

01. Another Skin
02. Sense Of Love
03. Crazy
04. Beware
05. Sacrifice
06. Chimera
07. Une Aute Vie
08. Psyché
09. Toi?
10. Dualité
11. Im Jenseits

"Dualité" is the new album of Leiden, the Metal band of my hometown Toulouse. Their last effort "Empty" was a really good album that mixed several influences, from Pop, to Electro, Gothic and Metal. One can't say that Leiden isn't original; at the opposite they know how to produce a really surprising sound. And it's the case one more time?

"Dualité" is really surprising, probably even more than "Empty" but why? Actually this album is really diversified and above all, it sounds a bit more complex this time. Well don't worry we still have strong riffs and powerful rhythms (like on "Im Jenseits") but in general it's a lot more "alternative". The songs are still slow and insistent and we have also some "ballads" but this time all that is mixed with tribal ambiances for example and electronic sounds. This opposition with the strong Death vocals of Will alternate by the angelical voice of Bérangère is new and surprising and really enjoyable. At the end this album will be a bit disturbing for the old fans of the band maybe, because it really doesn't sound like the Leiden that we had in the past but still at least the evolution is not stupid and the band doesn't follow a trend and avoid to fall into clichés. As an example the riffs are even a bit more "progressive" (a la Gojira) but for sure, Bérangère is better than ever and even if Leiden is maybe not so heavy now, we have a lot of originality in this album and this is fresh.

The production is also really good. I really like the classy artworks but also the recording of this album is better than "Empty" that was already really good and professional. It's hard to find something wrong on "Dualité" except maybe that it will be "weird" for the ones who know and love the first Leiden. Note however that the lyrics are better and "deeper" and they had the good idea to sing in French, English but also Italian or German. There is a big and interesting evolution on this album in my opinion, a bit disturbing yes but the band suprised me at least.

This album is special and unconventional, and this is a confirmation for me. I'm sure that some people will be suprised by this new Leiden fact but I must admit that I like that bands take some risks if they know at least how to do something good at the end... and Leiden did something good with "Dualité". If you like Dark Music you should have a look on this nice release produced by a really promising combo.