Band: Crematory

Title: Pray

Label: Massacre Records

Distribution: Suburban

Release date: 01/02/2008

Review: CD

I guess the most successful Gothic band from Germany might be this Crematory . Formed in the early nineties, this band has always been standard for nice and acceptable, few complex Gothic Metal and not only in their home country they gained lot of respect and a huge fan-base. Two years after the German-sung Klagebilder -album, Pray is the newest effort, recorded again with Christian Kohlmannslehner , whom you might know from, for example, Bluttaufe , Agathodaimon or, more recently, Winds Of Torment , at his Kohlekeller Studio . For the better part, Pray goes on where Klagebilder ended, indeed, in the vein of all former material. Yet in a way they also go back to their roots, and this in two aspects. First of all, the keyboard sound is much more organic. While the band did use electronic samples and digital sounds on their latest albums, this time the keyboards are orchestral, melodic and darkening again. This is a positive evolution for the fans from the early recordings. The second back-to-the-roots evolution might be the darkening intensity. While the latest albums were somewhat ‘softer', Pray has a more massive guitar sound. Besides, the rhythm section is more firm too, which also gives the whole a stronger image. In contrast to the last album, the lyrics on this recording are in English again, which is, of course, more ‘international', and as usual, they deal with human darkness (believe, trust, depression etc). I'm sure that all fans will be pleased again by this album.

76/100

Ivan Tibos.