My enchanting journey with Lake of Tears started some years ago with Crimson Cosmos. It's been my favorite album from that band ever since. So you can guess that it was a short journey, since even though the band's discography has always been decent to say the least, nothing quite clicked to me like Crimson Cosmos, especially the two albums that followed it.
Black Brick Road is here to change that and does a damn good job at it. We are talking about a classic Lake of Tears masterpiece here, coming to claim the crown jewel place of their discography.
You'll feel right at home from the beginning with The Greymen. The calm intro before the frantic psychedelic keyboards introduced by Daniel's voice, everything screams a back to the basics album for LoT; but is it really just that?
In Making Evenings you'll notice besides the special trademark atmosphere that only this band can create, an extensive guitar solo which is something that they never got us used to; an excellent melt of gothic metal and 70's sound. If Black Brick Road isn't a tribute to Deep Purple's Jon Lord, I don't know what is. Slow paced with a stable guitar pattern in the background, accompanied by some inspired keyboards that would fit excellently in any of the aforementioned band's discography.
An instant change of pace comes again with Dystopia. Heavy guitars, a touch of modern elements on the keyboards, up-tempo rhythm and the first deep female vocals are heard in the refrain. The Organ is slowing things down again; a really beautiful and sad song with another excellent (and fitting) guitar solo. This is noted from someone who is usually bored of guitar solos, so it's definitely a plus.
Another up-temp song follows, A Trip With The Moon which sounds like a classic Lake of Tears song. I especially liked the lyrics in this one. Then again all the lyrics in this album are after the band's fashion; poetic, dark, woven for people who are dreamers. Sister Sinister continues where Dystopia left us with reversed roles; Deep (too much smoking, probably,hehe) female vocals with Daniel lending his voice now and then. Nice and catchy song.
Rainy Day Away... Can't get more classic than this one; nothing can describe this song better than a verse of the lyrics: Come let's dream some, come take a ride in my dream machine. This song is a true dream machine with Gothic/doom at its finest. Daniel unleashes his talent as the Crazyman, someone who has this wonderful plan to conquer the demon. More Lord-ish keyboards, heavy guitars and powerful drumming accompany the last song of this amazing album.
This is a Lake of Tears classic. Their trademark sound is mixed (and never distorted by) with some new elements that makes it even more interesting; guitar solos, female vocals and even stronger references to the 70's psychedelic rock days.
Has it dethroned Crimson Cosmos in my heart? Yes. It's a more complete album. Even though Cosmic Weed and Raistlin and the Rose are probably unsurpassed, this is an album that had me hooked from the beginning till the end. This is a trip down the black brick road, a trip to melancholy in a world of dreamers.