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Crematory - Klagebilder review




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Reviewer:
8.6

66 users:
7.23
Band: Crematory
Album: Klagebilder
Release date: August 2006


01. Klagebilder
02. Die Abrechnung
03. Hoffnungen
04. Kein Liebeslied
05. Kaltes Feuer
06. Der Morgen Danach
07. Warum
08. Höllenbrand
09. Nie Wieder
10. Ein Leben Lang
11. Der Nächste
12. Das Lletzte Mal
13. Spiegel Meiner Seele

Well, i guess that Crematory are well-known so far for their strong course in the generally speaking gothic metal scene for many years now. "Revolution" was an interesting come-back, not something extremely special, at least for me, a step forwards for the sound of the band for sure with the electro elements enriching the compositions, but to my ears it wasn't that much succesful, but it left promises for something better from a band like Crematory. These promises were kept and Crematory are back with 2006's "Klagebilder", an album that is willing to make them greater and appeal to a wider audience!

The cover artwork is imposing, imperial, in crimson, black and golden colors, showing that Crematory are back with a new album for good and they're here to make the calm waters shiver with their winding pressence! The album is more, let's say, commercial, but to be more specific, it's catchier with ideas that stick to your mind! Something really positive in my opinion since Crematory remain metal, showing a more mature face through their well-conceived and well-presented compositions! "Klagebilder" balances between "aggression" and melody, powerful and imposing atmosphere and emotion.The clean and utterly melodic vocals have a more important role on this work, they sound more mature than ever, flawless and filled with intensity and emotion, yet the more powerful and brutal vocals are not left behind, they are still around and they add a more bombastic feeling to Crematory's music; let's not forget that they have always been a part of the band since their beginning, they couldn't be missing. Something that i want to point out is the superb use of the keyboards/electronics, as we all know the EBM/industrial scene of Germany and Central Europe is leading the ropes and Crematory couldn't leave these references pass by, they managed to blend them succesfully with their sound and offer some highly inspired synth-driven electro ideas that pace beautifully with the guitar work and the vocals, whereas some more atmospheric keyboard work and emotional piano passages are present here and there! The guitar work is good, not something exaggerating but definitely good, with some creative and good-sounding solo passages here and there. The riffing is heavily distorted and imposing at times, whereas at others it lurks evoking a somehow noisy feeling in the air, notheless a really good effort that definitely paces with the album as a whole! The rhythm section interprets in an unerring way with the tempo and the intensity of the moment, sounding either softer or more powerful!

As for highlights, i think the album flows as one from beginning to end without boring the listener, something very important in my opinion since you won't have to listen to 1-2 tracks from it and then take it off because the album doesn't have more to say to you. "Klagebilder" is one of the those albums you're going to love for the blending of heaviness and melody in such a beautiful way! I don't think that the use of only German language is going to prevent them from becoming more well-known, on the contrary, the German lyrics pace wonderfully with the music of Crematory, so i think this is another strong part of the album, you might not understand a thing from the lyrics if you don't know this language yet i'm pretty sure you're going to enjoy their sound through the magnificent vocals. In the end, they aren't the only band that chose to sing in German, more and more are the German-speaking bands that appeal to more people, so i don't see why this would be something negative in Crematory's case!

Lovers of modern gothic metal should purchase this album, in my opinion it brings back Crematory to the elite of the most well-known bands of the genre, taking their sound a step further and showing a more mature face! Well done guys!


Rating breakdown
Performance: 9
Songwriting: 8
Originality: 8
Production: 9





Written on 20.09.2006 by "It is myself I have never met, whose face is pasted on the underside of my mind."


Comments

Comments: 7   Visited by: 56 users
21.09.2006 - 01:23
Rating: 7
Nèst

Just a little overrated. Revolution and Act Seven impressed me much more than this one
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21.09.2006 - 01:45
Rating: 9
KwonVerge
Odysseus
Well, Act Seven was an awesome CD, just different in terms of sound, this album is more modern in its sound approach. As for Revolution, it didn't impress me that much! I strictly prefer this one to Revolution, but that's just my opinion
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Dec. 30, 1334.

...And the whiskey and wine entered our veins when blood was too weak to carry on.
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29.09.2006 - 02:29
-sean-
Account deleted
hey guys help me please!!I want to know what crematory will sing at the romanian festival in october.it will be songs only from "Klagebilder"?I think it's a good album but it would be a shame because I don't know nothing in german:P.so does crematory has any songs that are traditionally played at concerts?thanks a million
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29.09.2006 - 12:53
Rating: 9
KwonVerge
Odysseus
@-sean-: I haven't scene Crematory live, but as far as i am concerned they play songs from most of their album, they have their own classics as every band does and they don't take them off their playlist, so don't expect only something from Klagebilder, unless they are will to make especially for you a surprise!
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Dec. 30, 1334.

...And the whiskey and wine entered our veins when blood was too weak to carry on.
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25.11.2006 - 13:31
Talvi

I've only heard Nie Wieder and it has blown me away, so I'll get the album for sure
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My account on other musical pages:
http://www.last.fm/user/Pozito/
http://rateyourmusic.com/~Talvi
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14.12.2006 - 15:41
redmix

shitty album, some songs a la Rammstein... 93-94' albums are the best, they maked a fatal error when started playing modern pop gothic metal!
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08.06.2008 - 20:36
DeeDee

sounds like Tokio Hotel with growl vocals ;(
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