Review: Pride And Fall – 'Of Lust And Desire'

PRIDE AND FALL 

'Of Lust And Desire' 

DEPENDENT 

Pride And Fall released their last album 'In My Time Of Dying' back in 2007 before receding into six years of hiatus to focus on real life. Six years in music is a long time by anyone's standards. It doesn't matter if you were at the pinnacle of your genre as Pride And Fall had been. There is always someone ready to take your place. Now after a return to the stage at Infest already under their belt, the trio unleash 'Of Lust And Desire' to remind the world who they are.

Pride And Fall's futurepop tag always felt a little limited. The band always had a gothic melancholy to their sound that set them apart. And this is quite evident once again on 'Of Lust And Desire' as the sombre pace of the songs combine with the distinctive resonance of Sigve Monsen's vocals.

That's not to say it doesn't have it's harder moments. The likes of 'Hollow', 'The The Lights On', 'Fear Your Love' and 'Reborn' are pure ebm-fueled dance-floor fodder. But it is that sombreness on songs like 'Passionate Pain', 'The Comforter', 'The Void – Let Me Go First' and 'Epilogue' that make Pride And Fall so endearing. Their emotional resonance permeates the throb of the bass and find perfect expression in Monsen's gothic croon.

The album attempts to pick up pretty much where they left off in 2007. But it feels more well balanced and accomplished with songs perfectly crafted for both the dance-floor as well as ones for more introverted listening. The break seems to have given them more perspective and a few extra tricks to pick from rather than simply trying to fall back into the same old habits.

As you'd expect, the album displays a nice and modern sounding production job for the most part. Though the mix sometimes feels a little off with Monsen's vocals coming off a bit on the quiet side in a fair few places, which dulls the edges of some otherwise strong tracks.

This may be classed as a “come back” album, but it honestly doesn't feel like Pride And Fall have been away. 'Of Lust And Desire' is a more mature and considered album, but they've lost none of their bite and should have no problems in rediscovering their audience.

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