Review by MICHAEL WILLIS

You may have heard a lot of bands like LACRYMAE before, so why should you bother listening to ‘The Hallowed Design’? Because it’s a pretty damn good CD, that’s why. While they are wearing their influences on their sleeves and adhering to the usual conventions of this type of music, Lacrymae do occasionally manage to bring some fresh sounds to the table. But if you’re looking for some safe, by-the-numbers symphonically-influenced metal, you can also find something to like in this EP.

The main reason for anyone to listen to this album is the vocals. Brothers, Francesco and Agostino Piscitelli, have voices that are simply brilliant and create harmonies that take the songs to places that the modest instrumentation would have failed to. That’s not to say the rest of the band isn’t impressive. But they haven’t written anything we haven’t heard before. However, what they’re playing is just as exciting to listen to as the bands they’ve taken influence from.

Guitarists Teagan Paton and Tom Hoffman make a solid team. There are some interesting and flashy parts in their playing, but they fail to distinguish themselves from each other – an important thing to strive for in a two-guitar band. They mainly stick to their formula of chugga-chugga, harmonies, chugga-chugga, with the odd detour to set up more of the same. Backing them are bassist Josh Terlick and drummer Tyron Bayliss, who provide a driving force tighter than Teri Hatcher’s face. There are also the obligatory keyboard and string parts to turn up the cheese factor, but luckily they’re not overused and mixed slightly towards the back – so as not to ruin what are otherwise heavy and memorable songs.

Lacrymae are the best band in town if you’re looking for music like this. ‘The Hallowed Design’ is a fine example of what they can do and an excellent platform for the talents of the Piscitelli brothers. Whether you’re a fan of this style of music or just of great singing, this CD will have you clenching your fists in its epic sounds.

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