Life In Sodom – Tears Run Dry (EP – Nutrix Recordings)
Genre/Influences: Gothic, goth-rock.
Format: Digital, CD, vinyl.
Background/Info: Set up in 1987, American formation Life In Sodom has released several albums. The band is still driven by core member and singer Gerrie Brand and guitarist Daniel Heinze. Next to female backing vocalist Virginia Fuillerat, Life In Sodom asked a few guests to achieve this newest work featuring five songs.Notice by the way the work is also released as a limited vinyl edition.
Content: The main source of inspiration has always been gothic music, but I also have to mention related genres such as dark-rock and dark-wave music. “Tears Run Dry” is the fusion between all these genres with some extra catchy touches on top. The female backing vocals inject an heavenly flavor, which is fitting with some refined arrangements. Some passages are pretty dreamy-like while there also is a touch of Diary Of Dreams running through “The Lonely March”. The title song also is the last one from the tracklist and sounds as a spooky ballad.
+ + + : I noticed some grace running through “Strange Desires” and “The Lonely March”. Both songs have something dreamy and melancholic. The opening cut “Rescue Me” is another attention grabber for its catchy touch. I also like the fact this EP features 5 different songs.
– – – : I’m a bit disappointed by the title song, which as final track of the EP doesn’t bring any kind of climax. Another production element that could have been better is the fade-out at “Rescue Me”.
Conclusion: I can’t say “Tears Run Dry” will set the gothic music community on fire, but it’s a pleasant production.
Best songs: “The Lonely March”, “Strange Desires”, “Rescue Me”.
Rate: (6½).
Artist & Label: www.lifeinsodom.com / www.facebook.com/lifeinsodomMusic
About Life In Sodom
Life In Sodom was conceived in 1987 by vocalist Gerrie Brand in South Florida, initially as a performance-art outlet before the first band lineup formed in 1990. The single “The Stains” (1991) became an underground club and college-radio hit, followed by “Phantasmagoria” (1992) and the debut full length “Charader”. “Vampire My Love” (1995) and the “The Physical Being” CD EP (1997) followed, and the track “Souvenirs” appeared on Mick Mercer’s “The Hex Files Volume 2” compilation on the German label Nova Tekk. The full length “Haunting” arrived in 1999. Brand has continued fronting the project alongside guitarist Daniel Heinze and backing vocalist Virginia Fuillerat on releases including “Tears Run Dry”.
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