(CD, SAOL / H’Art / Zebralution, 2013)
Germany’s MOONCRY have already released two albums and “A Mirror’s Diary” is the third one. The band was formed in 2007 by guitarist and songrwriter Berti having Sali Hasan behind the mic. As the press-release reads, MOONCRY play melodic Dark Metal, so let’s hear firsthand what is the real deal here.
At first the band’s name was kind of leading me to think that MOONCRY would be one more typical atmospheric act like the early THEATRE OF TRAGEDY. But the truth is it’s not like this; the band actually plays Heavy Metal with some scattered atmospheric elements while a dark breeze pops up following Sali’s vocals. MOONCRY are trying to combine the Finnish atmospheric Metal with traditional Heavy Metal, but I cannot say the result has a positive sign. There are typical Heavy Metal riffs without something interest, while Sali’s voice has a good tone but not something great and unfortunately the rest of the band is on the same path. I am not trying to say that the band lacks the skills to compose something truly interesting, but I think MOONCRY have to work very hard to stand on top of this genre.
Seeing the glass half-full, Sali Hasan seems to have the pipes to extent his singing and sound more diverse. The keyboards definitely contribute to the dark atmosphere, but Enno needs to use up more fantasy elements on the arrangements but in general he has done a good job. What I keep after listening the album is the really catchy chorus of “Defamed Pride”, the beautiful vocal melodies of “Puppet Crow”, the nice riffs of “Burning Curtains” and the dark atmosphere of “A Mirror’s Diary”.
I think MOONCRY have to work more in their sound if they want to stand on top of the pile because the composing potential is there, but needs more ways to be fully deployed.
5/10
Links:
www.Mooncry.Eu
www.MySpace.Com/MooncryEu
www.FaceBook.Com/Mooncry
Tracklist:
01. Burning Curtains
02. Puppet Crow
03. Defamed Pride
04. Scylla
05. Reflections Of Lies
06. A Thousand Lives
07. Pictures Of Thee
08. The Beast Within Me
09. A Mirror’s Diary
10. Angel Of Darkness
Lineup:
Sali - Vocals
Berti - Guitars
Alex - Bass
Peter - Drums
Enno - Keys