LYSITHEA is a Melodic Death/Doom Metal band from Dunedin, New Zealand and is signed to Rain Without End Records (Naturmacht Productions). Their first three albums were entirely instrumental; Mike Wilson joined as a singer in 2014. "Star-Crossed" is their third album with Lamb on vocals and contains six new tracks.

"An Empty Throne" leads off the album. Heavy, crushing tones open the album, like the state of following the coming of a zombie apocalypse. Melody is mixed in as well, adding a touch of class to this solemn sound. Light piano and lead guitars provide that melody. It's like INSOMNIUM but heavier and more doomy. The vocals are thick and despondent. They are the perfect match for the music. It builds into a beautifully deadly ending. "Away" moves a little faster, still with that sense of melody that is often missing in this kind of music. It's thoughtful and well planned out, rearing its head at just the right time. The beauty here is in the way the vocals are in juxtaposition with the more ambient passages...it's brilliant.

"The Longing" is about the same length but opens with dual harmonic lead guitars that get you from the start. The vocals are dark...casting shadows around everything and coating the world around you in images of grey and black. Then twin guitars provide an element of melody that grabs you by your throat. Towards the end, the vocals rage, rattling everything around you and tearing out your vey soul. "Celeste" is a much shorter song. Take in the enormity of the universe...as strange sounds come at you from distant galaxies, pulsating from within the void. There but not there..."Unearthly Burial" is a slower, more thoughtful song. The vocals mark a sense of the unforgiven...like everything you hoped for is there but lost somehow. The subtle melodies tug at your heart. The vocals at the end are absolutely gut-wrenching.

"Fever Dream" is a twelve-minute closing opus. Soft piano keys open the song, with a hint of melancholy. The vocals come and command the song, as a leader commands his troops. The doleful sound here is noteworthy. Around the halfway mark, the sound drops a bit, and breathes...taking in a pensive approach that gives you goosebumps. It continues through the end of the song, with heavier messages, leaving you with your doom foretold. Overall, this was an amazing album. It reaches the inner recesses of your mind for your most horrid thoughts, bringing them to life in front of your eyes. As you gaze into the mirror, it shatters, leaving you to pick up the pieces. Yet hope remains, even amongst the terror. It is a fleeting thought, but it's all you can hope for.