Turning this game into a bit more interesting, I decided to randomly pick an album from my collection, that wasn't so well-known to me. So, Polish doom/gothic metal band Lacrima's sophomore full-length album 'Old Man's Hands' was the choice. Well, maybe not a 100% random choice, because it is autumn and this kind of music is very much suitable for these times. I remember getting this one for a cheap price. I gave it a brief listen before buying, but probably listened to it just once or twice after I got it, so it was like new to me. But: I remembered I liked it quite a bit.

Lacrima mostly utilize big sound here, reminding me about Norwegian gothic metal stalwarts Tristania: The guitars are heavy and rumbling with the bass guitar, the drums are whip-snappy, voluminous keyboards carpet/piano sound/flute sound it, and there are growled male vocals together with soprano female ones. The more airy songs, like 'As a Slave' for example, take me instantly to English moors; My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost's more weepy style guitar work is the main thing, why. The production is good and vivid. While not perfectly balanced, it is more organic than on 'Beyond the Veil' (1999 album from Tristania), which this album reminds me about quite a bit.

For Lacrima's benefit, while possessing a rather clear gothic metal influences, they managed to create an album that is characteristic. It is not a carbon copy of aforementioned bands at any point, but an amalgamation that aby fan of them bands should find pleasing. This encompasses variety of dramatic vibes, from sadness to yearning, and from agony to hatred. None of the songs goes over 7-minute mark, which is a bit surprising, knowing the genre. That does not cause compositions to be simplistic, as the band are able to do picturesque songwriting. The shortest one, 'Dangerous Patterns', is partly melodic death metal and is generally very swift.

The male vocals are nicely varying and emotive. The growls aren't very deep, but more like beary and powerful, while lachrymose voice reminds me of.... wait for it... Tankard's Gerre and his funny yodeling! I am not joking. Here's the voice is weepy mixed with a rougher trait. There's more theatrical high-pitched growl too, and them soprano female ones on some of the songs. The lyrics are about heart-ache and hatred it breeds, respecting elder folks, living in modern societies without aims, and dark sides of human mind. The lyrics are not printed, but short explanations are, and it is niftily packed.

To tell the truth, I do not whether this is an EP or a full-length album, as it is mostly said to be. If two bonus tracks are not counted, it lasts for 26-27 minutes. There's a 1996 demo song (a fun time machine to earlier Anathema vibes) and a live one included as the bonuses.

Their latest, the third album 'A Story from Limbo', was released in 2014, and their latest social media post is from 2019, so it is hard to say if they are still active. At least we got this great release from them to enjoy during these autumn times. The others will go under inspection...

Rating: 8 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
11/08/2021 20:20