Artist: Reptyle
Title: Night And The River
Genre: Gothic Rock
Release Date: 23rd May 2014
Label: Equinox
Album Review
German five-piece REPTYLE are very serious indeed about Gothic Rock. They are very Gothic. And they are very Rock. And after a decade, and with two albums and an EP behind them, they are still most definitely Gothic. And indeed Rock.
And that's the problem here. 'Night And The River' presents opening blast 'Ghosts And Machines' as its statement of intent, but there's so much going on at times it makes you dizzy. Spooky beginning, chiming THE MISSION style guitars, riff-heavy power-metal guitars over the top of these, drums crashing and seemingly developing a life of their own, synth-washes and everything turned up to eleven. And buried in an amongst this is a fairly weak voice, vanishing in the mix, and unfortunately given an uninspiring chorus and a horrible bit of falsetto to deal with. Frankly, it's a mess. By trying to be the ultimate everything, it ends up lost and puffed-up, like a fat kid looking for the sweet shop.
'Morning Heir' is no better, standard heavy rock fare masquerading as Goth, but the overwhelming noise again buries the tune, such as it is. At least 'What's In A Moment' reigns itself in and finally allows some breathing space. It's muscular without being excessive, there's a good dark drawly vocal and it all benefits greatly for showing some restraint. If dark dynamics are what you aim for, then they have to be heard, and the title track works well in that respect. Hushed Eldritch vocals, over some mournful synths and minor chord dramatics give this a dark lullaby feel, and even when the guitars crash in ( a bit less cymbal bashing though please ) it retains its power and direction.
But these moments are rare. 'Ways Of Fate' starts off sounding like DEEP PURPLE, wants to be IRON MAIDEN but just ends up a rather pointless instrumental, the kind of show-offy stuff session musicians write in between playing the proper stuff. More guitar hysterics pummel 'Rose And Imperial' into submission and even final track 'Pictures That Stay' struggles to escape the onslaught. It's a bit FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM, but without the menace and the conviction, and it's simply not memorable enough to raise it above the dark-metal-rock that was churned out in the nineties. Which all ended up sounding exactly the same. Sigh. So. It's Gothic. It's Rock. And it's not very good.
Tracklist
01. Ghosts And Machines
02. Morning Heir
03. What's In A Moment
04. The Age Of Love
05. Night And The River
06. Ghost Ships For Tomorrow
07. Ways Of Fate
08. Rose And Imperial
09. The Long Last
10. Pictures That Stay
Line-up
Zulu - vocals
Keule - guitars
Slash - guitars
Dead - bass
Kaiser- drums
Website
https://www.facebook.com/reptyle.band / http://www.reptyle.de
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 4
Sound: 6
Total: 5 / 10
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