LIQUID (ROCK AND ROLL DREAM)

This is the last album (so far) that these heavy Norwegian proggers have created. I really think the album's title comes across as being lame. Is it me or does "Liquid (Rock And Roll Dream)" sound lame? "Liquid (Dream)" would have sounded much better. Anyway the important thing is the music. And it's in their usual heavy, gothic-like style but certainly not as good as either of their first two albums.

"Wishful" opens with the waves rolling in but they are drowned out (haha) by a heavy bass driven sound. Processed vocals join in. "Knock On Wood" builds slowly as the vocals join in. A nice intense soundscape follows with gothic vocals. "Oh Yeah !" has some great ripping guitar early on. The vocals replace it before a minute as the contrasts continue. Waves roll in to end it. "Mea Culpa" kicks in after a minute with insane vocals. It settles before 4 minutes and blends into "Once Upon A Time" where those gothic vocals join in. "Repossess" is heavy as creepy vocals join in. Killer stuff. It settles and blends into "Mantra / Prozac" where it kicks in quickly. This settles and blends into "Liquid".

I like "Liquid" because of how experimental it is. It picks up and blends into "Reason". Gothic vocals join in and they are speaking more than singing. Organ 3 1/2 minutes in. "Luck Lipps" kicks in around a minute with processed vocals. Gothic vocals take over and we get some organ 4 minutes in. "Instinct" is dark and haunting as a beat comes in then vocals. "Aurora" is nice and heavy with vocals. Organ before 3 minutes. "Vox Aeterna" ends it with gothic vocals arriving a minute in. I like when the vocals stop, it's surprisingly uplifting here as these sections trade off for a while.

The lyrics certainly don't help the situation here as they are often cringe-worthy. For fans of heavy, gothic flavoured music.