MERLIN

First of all, the band was sent back to the Symphonic genre (from Heavy); which is truly were they belong. Their music is very dark and oppressive, but at no moment did they ever play heavy music. This is only justice.

The second remark is that all the lyrics are sung in French this time. I have experienced their poor English efforts in this department during their first two releases, so I can only be thankful to the band to have opted for their native language to express their feelings.

The third one is that the band has brought a new female vocalist on board. This is also a good news, since J.P. Brun was not the best of them. But she will only share the bill. Two additional ensembles also appear: strings and brass. They are mostly noticed during Le Sacre and Forêt (but not only).

The music that you will discover holds very much from their debut album. Lots of medieval atmospheres which induces some Ange oriented passages (but not too many.

The mood is dark and gloomy; even if the reference for this (but only this) remains LAZ, their previous effort which sounded more as a horror movie soundtrack than anything else. It is true that the music from Halloween fits a funeral party better than a wedding one.

Some parts of this album, which is mainly instrumental, are on the jazzy side (Le Sacre), and aren't really my cup of tea. Halloween is even heading Kansas while playing Table Ronde. The weird Morgane featured almost inaudible vocals. It is almost a recitation from the new vocalist Géraldine Le Cocq. Is it because the lyrics aren't quite interesting that she is whispering those?

I have to say that this album is losing its interest rapidly. The listener is confronted with little variations during this Merlin opus. A pompous effort, not very inspired music and as I have said during my Laz review, the purpose of writing dark pieces just to be scary might work for a while, but when it is repeated so often; it is annoying instead.

Two stars for this thin storyboard that goes along with little passionating music.