LAZ

Even if the core duo (Coppin-Brun) is still present on this album, there has been two changes in the line- up for Laz. A strange title for this work. Most of the lyrics come from the work of the American novelist Howard Phillips Lovecraft (four of the songs featured here).

The music is also strange, weird actually. This band was first catalogued into the symphonic genre which fits them better as far as I'm concerned. Halloween plays a dark, gloomy and scary music but this has little to do with the heavy genre.

This second album is also far to reach the quality of their debut. The overall feeling is of an oppressive and emotionless album. As a soundtrack, it might have worked, but when you listen to this album some sort of boredom quickly prevails, unfortunately. The quiet instrumental Just For You has definitely not a lot of great ingredients to make it an outstanding number.

The well named Yule Horror is not really recommended to listen to if you are alone, at night during a windy storm. It might well work on your nerves.Sombre vocals are not a highlight, but this was already a weak point of the band in their first release.

There are hardly one outstanding track on this album. Some fine violin parts provide some relief (Iron Mickey) but doesn't break the dark feeling. On the contrary, it sounds as if the band was willing to frighten the listener even more.

On the CD release from Musea, there is a bonus track called Suburb. Lyrics are in French but are referencing to Howard (Lovecraft). They are pretty weird and quite disturbing and refer to Yule Horror. It was recorded during the Laz sessions but never released before.

In the booklet, lyrics are translated into French (with very much imagery). You won't need the assistance of these during the instrumental Blue Nightmare (I didn't choose the title). This track was composed by Di Faostino (the new drummer) and is very much a percussion exercise which has very little to offer.

This album is quite a deception, it could have been a decent soundtrack for a B-series horror movie, but I can't really be thrilled with such work. No heavy prog here, just dark and scary music. Which is not the same. Two stars.