Lament Cityscape: The Torn

I recently saw the film Sicario, a powerful exploration of Mexican drug cartels and of the men and women who fight against them. In that film, there are several shots of Juarez, Mexico that depict it as a bleakly as a warzone. I don't know whether these shots capture the reality of things or whether they exaggerate, but they certainly left an impression on me. I mention all this because this band's name—Lament Cityscape—brings those images back to my mind. So does the music. I especially like the way the band name speaks to the idea of decay and waste and sadness. It suggests a cityscape laid waste, barren. If the name doesn't evoke those images for you, don't worry—the music certainly will. It consistently sounds like doom metal mixed with industrial music. The result is a bit like listening to doom metal through a thick door, but I don't mean that in a critical way. If anything, I was fascinated by the overall mood of this album. I've listened to it several times over the last two weeks and I find myself enjoying more and more its richness, its layers, and its overall mood. Sure, it's sad, but there's no denying that there's something oddly beautiful about this music. Unlike ambient noise, the music here has a regular beat and a sense of structure, but the general mood is one of bleakness, of sadness, and of lost opportunities. The vocals, such as they are, come and go without ever doing traditional or expected things. I didn't like them at first, but I've revisited this album enough that they have grown on me. I enjoyed this album very much and I think Lament Cityscape is a band worth checking out.

Track Listing:
1. Pale Hands
2. Turn Inward
3. The First Son
4. The Final Son
5. This Has Always Been
6. Sewn Into Our Palm
7. The Dance
8. Never Ended

Added: October 21st 2015
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 1763
Language: english

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