Band: Crematory
Title: Infinity
Label: Massacre Records
Distribution: Suburban
Release date: 29/01/2010
Review: CD

What can I say about this band? Well, it is an ‘old’ one, about to celebrate its twentieth anniversary, and at the same time it is one of the best known ones from Germany (and, of course, one of the best selling ones).
Throughout the years, the band recorded several (mini / full length / live) albums, which (almost) all got received very positively, not only in their home country, yet also in the rest of Europe (and Mater Terra in general). An important fact might also be the line-up changes throughout the years, which are almost unexisting. It is remarkable (and it almost makes me weep) how strong this formation’s basement is. Half of the current members are involved with the band since the very beginning (very early nineties), the others are part of the band since last century tout court, and yes, that’s rather unique. And it explains the band’s cohesion, both on stage as well as on disc.
Anyway, Infinity was recorded at Kristian Kohlmannslehner’s (think Flowing Tears, Six Reasons To Kill, Agathodaimon, Winds Of Torment, Bluttaufe etc) Kohlekeller Studio again – the band did work with him before on the last studio releases.
The album is strongly comparable to the last recordings, going for both musical approach and the ‘sweet’ variety. The latter is an important element. Every song differs from each other – some are fast, thrashing and up-tempo, others are more emotional, and some breathe a semi-Gothic atmosphere. Yet one thing remains: melody! Even though the tracks are interspersed with heavier Death Metal elements, the melodic approach still characterizes Crematory’s songs.
A comparison with the last recordings (as well as the earliest ones), and in contradiction to the band’s efforts at the end of the nineties and the beginning of this millennium, is the re-introduction of atmospheric keyboards instead of semi-electronic ones. It makes the whole sound more organic again; yet again the few electronised moments (think A Story About… amongst others) are another prove of this band’s will to dwell within different musical spheres.
In the past, the band did cover some tracks by other formations (think Sisters Of Mercy’s Temple Of Love or One by Metallica), and this time they experiment with a less known track, Depeche Mode’s Black Celebration. And believe it or not: it seems to be a successful one, partly due to the own approach.
I need to say that I wasn’t that thrilled by Crematory’s last release, Pray (2008), even though it was their best effort in years (personal opinion!), yet this new step is much more convincing and Infinity might be one of the strongest Crematory-albums ever.
Oh yes, next year, to celebrate the completion of their second decennium, Massacre Records will release a double-compilation (CD + DVD), called Greatest Hits – FYI.

82/100

Ivan Tibos.