Blurb from the press release: "Listening to this masterpiece everyone can confirm that Gloria was definitely worth waiting for."
Comment from this reviewer: "er... No!!"

Ligeia is not worth spending your hard earned cash on unless you have a serious fetish for female fronted Metal bands or maybe if you dig the new Skylark album (because of the cheese-factor). Sorry Skylark, that was a low punch. Fans of the latest Majesty album might also find something to like here. The music is straight ahead cliché filled Heavy Metal without any kind of innovation. During the first song I found it impossible not to laugh out loud when the chorus hit. To my ears this sounds like a band still on the demo stage trying to find their own sound. The music is not convincing at all. The biggest problem is the vocals, which are cringe-worthy. Dani "Mistress" Unglert's voice lacks power and when she tries to hit the high notes it sounds awful. The ending of Angelwitch is one example.

The whole album has a very amateurish feel to it and it doesn't help that the production is very dry and monotone. The guitar work is just about the only thing that keeps the album interesting from time to time. Other redeeming factors are the songs Heaven is hell and Last desire which do have a few good melodies, but it is not enough and overall the music lacks good riffs, atmosphere, intensity and above all variety.

With lyrics like "Gloria... Victoria!", "I'm the mistress of the night, I'm no witch, I hate the light... 'Choir:' She's the mistress of the night!" or all of Walpurgisnight, I can't help but chuckle along while shaking my head in despair.

My interest peaked when I read that Ligeia comes from the well known German city Ulm! Having previously born such creative geniuses as Johan Gambolputty de von Ausfernschplenden- schlitter- crasscrenbon- fried- digger- dingle- dangle- dongle- dungle- burstein- von- knacker- thrasher- apple- banger- horowitz- ticolensic- grander- knotty- spelltinkle- grandlich- grumblemeyer- spelterwasser- kurstlich- himbleeisen- bahnwagen- gutenabend- bitte- ein- nürnburger- bratwustle- gerspurten- mitz- wemache- luber- hundsfut- gumberaber- shönendanker- kalbsfleisch- mittler- aucher von Hautkopft (aus Ulm), I was hoping for another revelation. Talk about being disappointed...
I hope the band can outdo themselves in the future. After this heinous deed they really have something to prove.

Written by Steen
Saturday, August 14, 2004
Show all reviews by Steen

Ratings

Steen: 3/10

Members: No members have rated this album yet.

---

This article has been shown 3825 times. Go to the complete list.

Login to RevelationZ member section to comment

Comment by Mads J. (Anonymous) - Sunday, August 15, 2004

Haha, I can understand your feelings towards this album, Steen. I could easilly have been of the same opinion - as I am with the Majesty albums. But somehow I've really come to adore this album. Yes, it has an amateurish feel and Dani's vocals isn't exactly perfect. But on the other hand the music has a nice drive, some solid melodies and apart from most copybands succeeded in creating that 80's vibe perfectly. There's a lot of more or less hidden tributes to older metal bands like Stormwitch, Angel Witch, Zed Yago, Warlock, Helloween etc. and somehow I don't find this album "cheesy" at all (damned, I hate that phrase - if you think metal is cheesy, then my fucking life don't make much sense!:) All in all an enjoyable album if you're into a little 80's retro 6,5/10

Comment by Steen (Staff) - Sunday, August 15, 2004

View Profile Comments: 518 Hehe, let me try to explain the cheese bit a bit... Of course I don't think metal is cheesy, just a part of this album. When I describe something as cheesy, be it music, a movie or any other art, it can have different meanings, I guess it is an easy word to use for something that makes my toes curl. Something that just doesn't feel right. Like Rhapsody's narrator on the first albums, the new Skylark album or an overblown sentimental part of a movie (pick just about any Robin Williams movie for an example, Dead Poets Society and The Fisher King excepted). In the case of Ligeia the cheese factor is raised by the, to me, incredibly funny and unimaginative lyrics about witches, including the metaphors, and the way they are sung. It is a case of something that falls flat and becomes unintentionally funny. Thanks for the comment. It's always cool to hear a different take on something, though I am starting to get a little worried about you :) Posted by Steen (Staff) Sunday, August 15, 2004

Comment by Mads J. (Anonymous) - Sunday, August 15, 2004

haha, thanx for the concern - I'm a little worried myself sometimes! :) The thing with the cheese-factor is, that if you look at it with the wrong glasses, 90% of all metal-lyrics are indeed cheesy, be it Manowar, Rhapsody, Judas Priest, Helloween and a shitload of other bands. I agree with you, the lyrics on this album is (very) substandard, but I just don't like the expression cheesy...

Comment by Steen (Staff) - Sunday, August 15, 2004

View Profile Comments: 518 Yeah, I do understand what you mean but don't agree 100%. As is often the case different people put different meaning into the words. I will definitely think about the use of that word in the future. I'm getting hungry here. How about a bit of cheese? :) Posted by Steen (Staff) Sunday, August 15, 2004

Comment by Mads J. (Anonymous) - Sunday, August 15, 2004

Haha, no need - I'm not trying to cencorize you Bon apetite... :)

Comment by Steen (Staff) - Sunday, August 15, 2004

View Profile Comments: 518 Nah, you wouldn't be able to do that. It is just a matter of always working on expanding my writing abilities. If I didn't agree with you at least a bit on the use of "cheesy" I wouldn't think more of it. Posted by Steen (Staff) Sunday, August 15, 2004

Comment by Gloria rocks (Anonymous) - Saturday, October 16, 2004

This album rocks!

Comment by Luogo grande, i miei riguardi migliori! (Anonymous) - Monday, June 26, 2006

Luogo grande, i miei riguardi migliori! http://www.tempo.unctad11.org