Cemetary's 'Black Vanity' (1994) is a record that I can call a classic. After that, Cemetary's releases disappointed me more and more every time they got a new one out. Cemetary, which was fronted by Mathias Lodmalm, quit in 1997 and Sundown rose from, supposedly cold, the ashes. More electro and goth tinged than Cemetary's dark metal, their music wasn't made for me. Suddenly in 2000, Cemetary 1213 was born.

Cemetary 1213 is not Cemetary. It mixes, well what a fucking surprise, Cemetary's darker metal and Sundown's electro and goth sides. There are metal riffs reminiscent of Cemetary, but usually they are just pale shadows of classy material of yore. Metal parts are more extreme than anything since 'Godless Beauty' (1993); growled vocals (by questing talents Manne Engström and guesting Anders Fridén), double kick drumming and shredding guitars (e.g. on 'Firewire'). 'Anthem Apocalypse' is a trip to Gothenburg, Cemetary 1213 way. The metal element also has more modern feel, which is strengthened by the electric stuff. Sadly the drums are programmed, which lessens the impact a lot (okay samples, though). Dark alternative rock go hand in hand with Cemetary's metal leanings (e.g. 'Silicon Karma (It just Can't Stay the Same)'). Some of the songs have industrial pumping rhythms (e.g. nice slice 'Antichrist 3000'). Mainly, the songs are simplistic. They are too simple, actually, at smallest consisting of 2-3 parts only.

Mathias Lodmalm's voice is pretty one-dimensional. Pretty much love/hate affair. I like his crooning voice, there's no similar voice around. Thankfully there are a few guesting vocalists. Lyrical themes are varying. Man and machine future dystopias, Cemetary style darkness and guns. Yep, again songs about fucking guns!!! I'm full of 'em. I will never buy another album with a song about guns. No-fucking-way. Might be a tad tough to avoid the subject, though.

'The Beast Divine' isn't actually 40 minutes long, if you don't wanna count the silence found in the last track. There's a hidden goth song after the last one. Why, I ask? Are these funny things these song/silence/hidden song things?! The album is soon consumed and there's no enough positive things to keep me getting back to it. Pale shadow of good old Cemetary. Skeletal crow on the cover is a good metaphor: Body is mere bones, just like this is simple music, and feathers (a few positive things of the album) on its wings keep it still flying, but when they fall off, the crow falls... Easy-listening music, this. This is the only Cemetary 1213 album. And no, I haven't still tried the new Cemetary album 'Phantasma' (2005). I have no balls to try it. What if it is another letdown..? I should have learned already before I got 'The Beast Divine', that Mr. Lodmalm's too goth for me nowadays.

Rating: 6- (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
06/18/2005 20:57