Dying Passion - Sweet Disillusions
Metal Breath Production

file under alternative / pop

Vera: This is the third album of the atmospheric metal band Dying Passion. The band’s beginning goes back to 1995 when a first line up operated under the moniker Sinners. Like almost every band, they faced many changes in the line up through the years, but ‘Sweet Disillusions’ is the creation of six musicians, assisted by quite a lot guest musicians. They add a special timbre to the music by the use of clarinet, trumpet and alt sax. When it comes down on vocals, female singer Zuzana Lipova has the preponderance, but there are male vocals of Skunny in two of the songs. If my memory serves me well, this man did also vocals on ‘The Pass In Time’ of Cales, a side project of Root guitarist Peter ‘Blackie’ Hosek.

The songs offer a lot of mutual diversity and it means that the album cannot be labelled under one style. One could say that Dying Passion has any originality. And success, meanwhile in their home country Czech Republic, for soon they will play as support act of Anathema in Prague. Do not expect any solemn gothic vocals of Zuzana, in a song such as the darkened ‘Do You Want To Fly?’ Amanda Lear is nothing compared to this.

‘From Them’ commences as a steady hard rock track, but it takes a twist to ethnic Slavonic music by clarinet and vocals. The above mentioned ‘Do You Want To Fly?’ is the most arcane and dark track. An alt sax is the surplus here, even if you do not like horns you got to admit it is a superb track with an intriguing atmosphere. The dominant bass gets a grip on you. Very atmospheric, even creepy. ‘Tender Renown’ leans on orchestration and horns. It goes too much in the direction of popular ‘Schmerz’ music, but nevertheless ok. ‘Summer Dream’ does it better with sober keys and female vocals. A strange, somewhat chaotic song is the jazzy ‘Him Far Away’ where a trumpet looms up again. I am getting the feeling I am off the track. The female vocals are the only mainstay in between a mishmash of styles. ‘Within Reach’ (with a graceful guitar solo) and ‘Sweet Disillusions’ are quiet, peaceful compositions, while ‘High On The Blind Speed’ rocks again and has some nice organ accents. Diversity rules on this album and it has seldom anything to do with metal is the conclusion. Consequently mostly recommended for adventurous souls.

Rating 72/100 (details)

http://www.dyingpassion.com