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Title: Diary of Dreams
Band: The Plague
Genre: Electronic /Dark Wave
Release Date: 21st September 2007   
Label: Accession Records



Introduction

I guess we need no closer Introduction for DIARY OF DREAMS. The Band founded by mastermind and singer Adrian Hates in 1989 can look back on nine Albums (including the live album), several EPs and a Live DVD released in November 2006. 'The Plague' serves as a harbinger for the upcoming album 'Nekrolog 43' that will be released end of October.


Members

Adrian Hates - vocals, rhythm guitar
Gaun:A - lead guitar, second voice
D.N.S. - drums
Torben Wendt - keyboards, second voice


Website

http://www.diaryofdreams.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/diaryofdreams


Track Review

01. The Plague (Vers. N41) - 3:51
In DIARY OF DREAMS terms a very aggressive and harsh track where the guitars play a major role. The drums, even though they are programmed sound, are very organic. The short string arrangement gives also a certain dramatic note to the track  Content-wise it continues where MenschFeind left off. While the protagonist in MenschFeind was a child, he's now a full grown-up adult, who's still wearing this weird mask and still is locked away in a dark prison cell. If you equal the two persons, this could mean that the 'curse' Nigredo doesn't lead to death at least to a certain age. But it causes several physiological and psychological mutations. That would also explain why the lyrics sound as if they were told from different personalities. Here's a little example: “pretty face you think that you can hide behind this mask of yours; prison cell you can't keep me here...”

02. The Plague (Vers. N4-4) - 4:47
This version of 'The Plague' is much straighter forward than its previous version and should therefore also be a very good club pleaser. It is nevertheless much reduced in terms of its instrumentation. Very minimal sequencer and synth lines. The guitars benefit from that as they could spread more 'sound-wise'.

03. Allocution - 5:18
Adrian said about this song that it really hurt not to put it on the album, ‘cause it would give an explanation on what the album should state, especially the chorus. I'm really glad that this wonderful and emotional piece of music has made it on the single, even though I'm often close to tears while I'm listening to it. Especially in the before mentioned chorus: “What was it all good for if you give it up now, if you lay down now to rest, if you stop the fighting”. The whole instrumentation  matches the mood of the lyrics. It's very calm with wide synth layers and string arrangements and also melancholic piano chords.

04. Traumtänzer (Memorial Version 07) - 4:41
This song was the one most celebrated by the fans worldwide on the past Nigredo Tour so the band decided to make an 'updated' version of it as a big “thank you” to all fans for an incredibly memorable tour. The sound is quite close to the original but this time, the guitar parts used on the tour are also included and the overall sound is more fresh and up-to-date. Unfortunately the Piano part from Torben didn't make it on this version, but you can't have everything. :-)


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 10
Sound: 10
Extras: -
Total: 10


Conclusion

'The Plague' is a really monumental harbinger for the new album and surprises with its unusual harshness and its aggression. The B-Side 'Allocution' - which is my absolute favourite on the single - is the exact counterpart to it. Very calm and more melodic and very, very sad. I guess the fans will love the new version of 'Traumtänzer' a lot and celebrate it as well as the already legendary original version. After this experience I'm very curious about the upcoming album (Release date 26th October). The single and the already revealed album covers already give a hint of what to expect.

{jos_sb_discuss:19}

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