Review Summary: After setting the scene with an off-the-rails and chaotic debut, Lazarus A.D. returns with a more melodic and well-structured entry into metal history that appeals to heavy metal fans and more casual melodic rock ones alike.
When reviewing a sophomore album of any band, regardless of genre or line-up, it's necessary to take into account the positives and negatives of the debut release. You have to ask questions; How has the band progressed, and built upon the debut? What are some things they could further develop? Lastly, is there anything missing in the sophomore album that was present in the debut production?
Before I answer all my own questions, I'm going to make some connections. I like connections. Let's take a listen to
Metallica's "Of Wolf and Man" and "Enter Sandman". Now, listen to
Pantera's "Walk". Notice any similarities between the two metal legends and the sophomore album of thrash metal band
Lazarus A.D., "Black Rivers Flow"? I certainly do. The lyrical styles present in "Enter Sandman" are found in almost all the tracks in "Black Rivers Flow", accompanied by the heavy headbang-worthy themes from "Of Wolf and Man" and "Walk". Infused with Lazarus' distinct dual-vocal layering and absolutely incredible guitar- and drum-work, "Black Rivers Flow" is as replayable as any good
Metallica record ever was.
However, the form and structure of "Black Rivers Flow" is a heck of a lot different than what was featured in "The Onslaught", Lazarus' debut release - the stark contrast between Onslaught closer "Who I Really Am" and Black Rivers closer "Eternal Vengeance" is proof enough of this. With the almost shocking transformation between the two albums, it's understandable that more than a few fans of "The Onslaught" were a little miffed after listening to "Black Rivers Flow". Another connection I drew between the difference of the albums was akin to the difference between
Disturbed's debut, "The Sickness", and their sophomore album "Believe". While the first showcased a hard rock style, the sophomore developed the sound and meaning of the band, driving home the emotional point of
Disturbed's songs. There isn't that much of a difference between that occurrence and the contrast between "Black Rivers Flow" and "The Onslaught", in my mind. Let's move on to the questions.
"How has the band progressed, and built upon the debut?"
"Black Rivers Flow" is a heck of a lot more emotional and heartfelt than "The Onslaught". Quite frankly,
Lazarus A.D. went from sounding very, VERY repetitive to meaning each and every lyric and riff that you hear in the sophomore album. They've developed what their band stands for - it's not just an off-the-rails thrash band that sounds great, it's a meaningful symbol for what they all believe in. They had the right stuff in "The Onslaught" - it just wasn't executed nearly as well as in "Black Rivers Flow". Listening to "The Strong Prevail", which reminds listeners of the importance of standing up and fighting for what you believe in, you can tell that they've evolved into a band that can get their ideals across without sacrificing the glorious and head-thrashing sound they had in the debut album.
"What are some things they could further develop?"
Nothing's perfect. My summation of this is pretty short and sweet: drums and vocal clarity. I do agree with many a fan that the drums could have been heavier without sacrificing the sound they had, and my own take on the vocals is that they're not always as clear as could be. You can make people look up lyrics; that's fine, and very common in the metal industry. What I don't understand is why they did it so often. Sure, it's not a huge issue, and maybe it was a stylised choice that they made intentionally. It certainly doesn't detract from the overall experience of listening to the album the whole way through.
"Is there anything missing in the sophomore album that was present in the debut production?"
In my honest opinion, I think that "The Onslaught" was a mess. It sounded amazing, there's no doubt about that; there was just so much chaos. The lack of structure and organisation made it hard to really get a feel for what the band was trying to say in their songs, and there just wasn't enough of a difference between tracks. The only real value of listening to the album for me, at this point, is the shrieking solos and gravity blasts, the former of which is actually done better in "Black Rivers Flow". "The Onslaught" isn't necessarily bad; I just think it's one of those "the structure is that there is no structure" things. "Black Rivers Flow", the mature big brother to "The Onslaught", is much more my style. I love chaos, but it's only good if it's done in small doses - an entire album's worth of it isn't very fun to listen to over and over again. Ultimately, the only thing "The Onslaught" had that "Black Rivers Flow" doesn't is unnecessary chaos and repetition.
Now that you've read the overall review, here's a track-by-track review.
1. "American Dreams" - Starting off slow and building into the main track with an opening, muffled riff, "American Dreams" booms out about forty seconds in with a well-structured guitar and drums. The vocals open up with the line, "Screams fill the air!" The chorus has an excellent rhythmic vocal set layered under the more brutal vocals, the interjection around three minutes in shows off Lazarus' well-developed structure once more, showcasing their ability to go back and forth between two established forms, and the dual-solo work is worth its own song. All in all, an exceptional opening track that sets the scene for the sophomore album. 8.25/10
2. "The Ultimate Sacrifice" - The second track wastes no time in blasting your eardrums with a killer drum opening, backed by a memorable guitar riff. The better-developed drum structure is very apparent in this track. As the first few seconds rage past, the guitar reserved for solos starts up, leading into the opening vocals. A key difference between this and the opening track is that the chorus seems to be reversed; the rhythmic and lyrical vocals are the more dominant ones as the chorus rolls in, and the blast beats pick up after the second chorus, leading into a fitting, if more leashed solo that lasts about the same time as the ten- or so second drumplay that follows. The final chorus hits and is followed by an extended solo for the closer of the track, which fades out into silence. 8.75/10
3. "The Strong Prevail" - Lazarus is no stranger to having similar openings between tracks, and "The Ultimate Sacrifice" bears a strong similarity to this track's opening. As mentioned previously, this track is a meaningful, yet hardcore reminder that you must be strong and fight for what you believe in. The deepened "Prevail!" in the beginning shows that the band is experimenting, and it pays off. The chorus is memorable, and the lyrics speak volumes, if you can understand them. The track picks up in intensity with the instrumentals - the drums in particular - and ends abruptly on the final chorus. 8/10
4. "Black Rivers Flow" - A quiet introduction that lasts about fifteen seconds sets this track apart from the past two. The exceptional guitar-work in the opening minute is a marvel to listen to, but surprisingly, I wasn't sorry when the vocals popped in. The riffs continuing in the background, the title track's vocals are thoughtful and thought-provoking, as well as being the clearest on the album, with the possible exception of the closing track. The title track is a perfect example of how Lazarus maintains their heavy style while infusing true feeling into their songs. "A darkened sky, with the truth below. Shadows multiply, when rivers flow. Searching now, into everything we know." The more daring and hardcore vocals are excellent, and the title track fittingly has a very large amount of work put into it, even compared to the rest of the exceptional tracks. The short acoustic interlude that leads into a solo and the clinching chorus is another welcome experimentation found in "Black Rivers Flow". 9.5/10
5. "Casting Forward" - I can honestly say that "Casting Forward" is my least favourite track. It's not even that the track is bad; it's just not as incredible as the rest of the songs. The opening seems decent enough, with a really great guitar and drum opener. My real issue with this track is the chorus. The vocal quality seems like Paulick or Gapen or whoever was doing the lyrical, rhythmic vocals at this point was trying to do a good job, but didn't do enough and they just sort of rolled with it. The solo work is exceptional. This is really the only track I have any gripes about, and I can't stop praising it. That should tell you how awesome the album is as a whole. This is also another track that ends on the chorus. 7/10
6. "Light a City (Up in Smoke)" - The opener to this one seems strangely familiar, yet very Lazarus-ish. I really like the guitar riff that goes to the background as a killer solo leads into the opening vocals. The chorus takes it away - it's one of the best beats in the album - and the lyrics really show the more melodic side of Lazarus. Before each chorus, hardcore shrieks grace the listener's ears, and after the second chorus, an incredible riff combined with a Lamb of God-style "Oh!" give way to an amazing solo, drawing the track to the final chorus, and its end. I highly recommend this track if you're looking for an example of what the new Lazarus sounds like. 9/10
7. "Through Your Eyes" - Drum plays a key role in the opener of "Through Your Eyes", setting the beat for the guitar-work. There's not much said here that can't be seen in many other tracks; this song, however, has the best low vocals out of the entire album, and the rhythmic guitar that plays behind the chorus is, simply put, amazing. Speaking of the chorus, the lyrics, "You're so evil... you make the devil cry!" show typical Lazarus angst while still being emotional. Remember how many times I've mentioned the newfound depth in "Black Rivers Flow"? Yeah. A really great solo, lasting almost a whole minute, if not more, leads into the final chorus. 8.5/10
8. "Beneath the Waves of Hatred" - Amazing job on the opening drums, guys. The vocals in this are excellent and blend perfectly with the more lyrical and rhythmic vocals in the chorus. The chorus' lyrics, "I sold my soul, I should have waited!" showcase some internal conflict with the subject of the track. Another great low vocal breaks up the main guitar work with the solo. Again, the shrieking solo is beyond true description in terms of awesomeness. The pulse-pounding beat at the end of the track is the lock and key on another masterpiece. 9/10
9. "Eternal Vengeance" - "Staring at these walls, confined for all my life, wondering if I'll ever again see the sunlight. With all my suffering, no one will understand. Alone I sit, no one to call or take my dead end. 'round and 'round I wander, this enduring consequence, surrounded in my tomb by signs that don't make sense. So I lie... waiting for the day I die!" The opener is quiet, lyrical, rhythmic, and a perfect example of how strong Lazarus has developed their style. The relationship between drum and guitar is excellent, and the clean vocals of the chorus are sung with just as much strength and purpose as the heavier vocals, if not more. The slow-down about halfway through this seven-minute-long track builds into a more vocal-dependent portion of the track, which climaxes in a wondrous solo before transitioning to a second head-thrashing take on the first half of the track, including a final chorus and a minute-long instrumental clincher that fades into silence. 10/10
You know the overall story. You know the track-by-track story. Why haven't you gotten this album yet? It's a must-have, a necessary addition to your metal collection, be you a Metallica fan or a Children of Bodom fan. Appealing to the heaviest of metalheads and the more casual rock fans who enjoy the occasional Metallica or Pantera. Enjoy the album, and I expect exceptional things of the band's next release.
