Released by: Metalville
Released : April 21st, 2023
Genre: Rock
Links: http://www.livkristine.com
Line Up:
All instruments (except “Pictured Within” & “True Colours”): Tommy Olsson
Vocals: Liv Kristine Espenæs
Tracklist:
1. Our immortal Day
2. No Makeup
3. Maligna
4. Gravity
5. In Your Blue Eyes
6. River of Diamonds
7. Pictured Within
8. Shaolin Me
9. Love Me High
10. Serenity
11. If I am Dreaming
12. True Colours
LIV KRISTINE is a Norwegian singer who is probably familiar among most music fans out there, because she has so far had a stunning career the past 30 years that took her in various directions, although most of the time she was part of the gothic and metal community, singing in bands like THEATRE OF TRAGEDY, LEAVES’ EYES and MIDNATTSOL, but meanwhile she always kept a solo career going. In fact, her debut solo album was released all the way back in 1998, and now 25 years later her 6th solo album River Of Diamonds is released.
I received a beautiful blue vinyl version of the album, and along with wonderful looking pictures on the front and back of the sleeve and inside the liner notes, which also contains all the information you need to know as well as the lyrics, it is very enjoyable to listen to this new solo album of Liv. Besides Liv on vocals there are several guests, although all instruments were played by TOMMY OLSSON (ELUSIVE, THEATRE OF TRAGECY, etc.). 10 songs are included on this vinyl album, and it opens with the uptempo fantasy symphonic rocker Our Immortal Day, while the following No Make Up is a lovely calmer slowtempo semi-/midtempo ballad that has the old WITHIN TEMPTATION touch. Up next is Maligna, a straight-ahead uptempo melodic rocker with a catchy chorus, kinda reminding of ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN. So far so good, and it seems to get better and better with every song. Gravity is a calmer fantasy/gothic sympho piece and In Your Blue Eyes closes side-A of this beautiful blue vinyl album in an uptempo symphonic melodic rockstyle like LANA LANE did so many years ago.
Side-B opens with a typical uptempo gothic rocker in the style of Liv’s earlier band LEAVES’ EYES titled River Of Diamonds, and perhaps this is the best song of the album, because it also includes an incredible high falsetto opera range of Liv and a darker gothic rocking guitar like we know it from for example bands like THE CULT, THE CURE and/or DOOL, while FERNANDO RIBEIRO (of MOONSPELL) appears as guest singer. Following Shaolin Me is slightly sweeter and slower, yet it has an angelic Icelandic/Norwegian kinda winter charm like WITHIN TEMPTATION once again. Love Me High and Serenity are rather catchy somewhat 80s inspired uptempo melodic rockers with strong hooks and a catchy chorus, like a cross between LANA LANE, ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN and a touch of 80s KATE BUSH. The record closes with If I Am Dreaming, a calmer gothic ballad that is really close to KATE BUSH and it even touches a bit TORI AMOS somehow. Side-B is definitely much better than Side-A, and fans of aforementioned acts as well as the people familiar with Liv’s previous work, they will all very much appreciate Liv’s new solo album. More info can be found at: http://www.livkristine.com and please make sure to get this beautiful blue vinyl release of the album!
Written by: Gabor Kleinbloesem
Ratings: Gabor 8/10
https://open.spotify.com/album/0wOmrQp55XAsN20i7VJCIc?si=9a5h1OB2Taa5K6CasKABUw
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