LACRIMAL

This album has been in mid-high rotation on my playlist for almost a week, so I have had enough time to digest and understand the band's proposal, which to be honest could be confusing at times. This is not necessarily bad by any means, but it does plays a little bit against the overall review and rating.

Nefrectomia (nephrectomy), or surgical removal of a kidney, opens the album with a tardy and dark instrumental passage, like an oboe submerged in thick water. The title track Lacrimal stays on the instrumental side showing some of the dark prog arrangements that will be revisited and enhanced in the immediate future of the musical trip, crunching and metallic guitar soling invades the already tired loop that immerses the listener into the bright-less Amazonian jungle. Rhythmic section is fenomenal, and the bass per se a highlight, fat heavy and powerful. There's a tonality progression throughout the track, somehow atoned but interesting, Iommy meets Howe, definitely very Sabbath like with the doom feel. Noite starts like a continuation of Lacrimal, only heavier riff wise and finally bringing the first vocals of the album. More Iommy like riffing with the key layers on the back that add some color to the obscureness, the guitar work is great again, and some invited flute thankfully invades the desperate feeling that the lyrics depict. Then halfway through a symphonic mood is elegantly inserted to show the band can be bright and less fudgie, jumping into the Floyd universe, sounds crazy but it all works and makes sense, they masterfully perform the progression and as successfully they bring back the song to the darkness again just before it comes to an end. With Shedding Tear my first confusion arrives. A very soulful song with guitar licks as beautiful and melodic as any Gilmour or Latimer playing, spacey and meaningful, but far from the initial proposal of the band for this album. Overall I'm not totally into Germano's vocals, however I rather him singing in his native Portuguese than in English, don't get me wrong, he does a pretty good job, is just that it feels a little forced. I like the song, I do, just don't feel it belongs to this specific album.

Enigmatic Eye (parte um) combines acoustic guitars and very hypnotic synths, it does bring back the same dark and somehow melodic ambience of the first 20mins. The flute intervention warms everything a little and immerses the listener into an enchanted forest, I love this song, it grows on me with every listen. Enigmatic Eye (parte dois) totally separates itself from its predecessor, back to the sabbath like riffing and atoned licks, very chaotic at times even when the violin tries unsuccessfully to tie all together. Again I find myself a little confused with the proposal, don't even feel part one and two belong to the same conceptual creation, maybe it does an all makes sense, I don't see it though. If Shedding Tear felt a little misplaced, When simply confirms my mental mix up. English vocals return to the scene in what I believe must be de single (or at least the desired/chosen one) with exporting quality! I strongly think this song belongs in the same musical proposal as Shedding Tear, but not as companion as tracks like Noite, Lacrimal and the two upcoming tracks. De Caelo brings me back to my prog alley and coincidentally opens the best 18+ minutes of the album. Bass, drums and keys are back, the tempo arrangements and how the song progresses showcases the unquestionable musical level the band has, soaring guitars that feel like serrated knife blades while the synths add the galactic ambience that evolves into a dark Eloy-like song. Túmulo closes the trip with my favorite song. Vocals are back, in its native Portuguese and everything around it sounds perfect. Pink Floyd and Eloy are impressively present here. However it feels authentic, heartfelt and sad, very sad. Túmulo (tomb) has all to be loved from the band, when Lobo (guitars) and Dickow get together they really add to the band's sound, it gives them power and an epic classic prog feeling. Guitars are fenomenal and lead the final moments of the album. Looking forward to more music from these South American prog rockers. THE END The review shows 3 stars, however I give 3.5 because basically it deserves it!

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