LUNATICA „Fables & Dreams”

10 Songs – 51:45 min
www.frontiers.it
www.lunatica.ch
Symphonic Metal, Metal with female vocals
Best song: A little Moment of Desperation, Avalon

As in 1999 the Swiss band LUNATICA was founded, they had a few difficulties to find a good singer. With Andrea Dätwyler they found a singer with an atmospheric voice, which fits, due to the band, well with the LUNATICA songs. Well, due to the band, but that is not my opinion. You can read on their homepage that this voice is a expression. But I can´t hear anything about that. That is just a thin voice. I would spontanously say: nothing special. The music in “Fables & dreams”, the “Atlantis” part II, wouldn´t be that bad. After the intro there is that damn great song “Avalon”. But as I heard that voice, yes, you know, what I want to say… Well, don´t talk about Andrea´s voice anymore. Let´s come to the songs themselves: “Elements” goes in your ear. But this song also has some real techno “elements”. Bad! You can also find a  ballad called „Fable of Dreams“. I think, the male and female vocals doesn´t fit. Straight forward with “Still believe”, which is a typical LUNATICA song for me. “The Spell” kicks as immediately, but it is going to be normal, boring everyday metal. What the hell does the voice remind me of?… “Fred Durst”, “Linkin´ Park” respectively have had their part in a song, too… Just pay your attention to the male vocals.

Techno again: “The Neverending Story”. Man, why such things? “Hymn” of Ultravox is a typical cover song. If nothing comes to your mind, you cover a song. But: Why THAT song? There are enough versions of it. At least Andrea has got a little more power in her voice. But the main part is not that way. “Silent Scream” in the 2004 version sounds a bit too normal and “A little Moment of Desperation” has got a House taste. But I am happy with that riff! And the melody stays inside your ear! That one is the best song on the whole album! Song 2 is good, too. Very Edenbridge-like, sometimes it reminds me a bit of Nightwish.
Now I have been talking a lot about the vocals. But this is something which I can´t forget.

Mixed and mastered by Sascha Paeth, wellknown for his work with Edguy, Rhapsody, After Forever, Angra, Kamelot and Heaven´s Gate: good work!

Somehow I have the feeling that I heard this stuff somewhere… No meldies which will stay inside the ears. Without those techno elemenst and (urgent!) with a male singer, I could get happy with LUNATICA. But like that…?

note: 4/10

Tracklist

1. The search goes on (Intro) – 4:15
2. Avalon – 3:42
3. Elements – 6:45
4. Fable of Dreams – 5:22
5. Still believe – 6:11
6. The Spell – 4:48
7. The Neverending Story – 5:36
8. Hymn – 4:30
9. Silent Scream (2004) – 5:23
10. A little Moment of Desperation – 4:58

Line-up

Andrea Dätwyler – Vocals
Alex Seibert – Keyboards
Sandro D´Incau – Guitar
André Leuenberger – Guitar
Ermes Di Prisco – Drums
Guest: Olaf Retmeyer – Bass