'Of Lust And Desire'
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.