Ladies in Rock
I’d start by saying that Lovelorn Dolls is like a phoenix to me, rising from its ashes time and again. The band was formed back in 2010 and has faced several hiatuses throughout their career. It’s important to note that the duo (Kristell Lowagie and Bernard Daubresse) mostly operates on their own, either doing everything themselves or with minimal support. In today’s music scene, maintaining a band is incredibly challenging, especially with the proliferation of female-fronted rock/metal bands in recent years, leading to oversaturation. Lovelorn Dolls faces this challenge as well; despite having three full-length albums, EPs, and remixes under their belt, they remain sadly underrated and relatively unknown to this day. Nevertheless, to my great delight, they always come back.
Their latest hiatus has been the longest in their career so far, their last album, “Darker Ages,” released back in 2017. So, they’re breaking a long silence with their fourth album, titled “Deadtime Stories,” set to be released in May.
Lovelorn Dolls categorizes themselves as gothic rock/metal, but electronic elements are also frequently present in their music. This is particularly noticeable in their second album, “Japanese Robot Invasion,” whereas their latest album, as mentioned, focuses more on gothic rock and an extremely dark atmosphere.
Listening to their new album, it feels like the band has masterfully woven the stylistic elements of these two genres together. The electro-elements introduce catchy synth themes, while the foundational elements assert a harder rock edge.
“Deadtime Stories” differs from its predecessors in that while the themes of previous albums’ songs were lyrically distinct, here they are united by a specific concept: death and suicide, presenting a cohesive horror story.
The album’s intro begins with narration, introducing us to a girl who is different from others, loving cemeteries and being most captivated by deadly scenes in stories. This is followed by the already released song “A Heart Cries,” which is also the fastest-paced track on the album. I need to tell, if you’re looking for fast-paced songs, you won’t find them here. Most of the album’s tracks maintain a stable mid-tempo, reinforcing the melancholic mood, which works well. One standout track is “Beautiful Chaos,” for which a music video has been made.
Two guest vocalists contribute to “Deadtime Stories.” In the song “Death & Glory,” a rapper named VVitchboy appears, which honestly surprised me at first listen, I wasn’t sure if his rap-style fits to this song. However, by the first chorus, I was convinced. VVitchboy describes himself as an occult/goth rapper, and his uniqueness is undeniable. The rap themes, occasional growls, combined with the heavier foundation, faintly remind me of the metalcore genre. Kristell’s voice joins in the chorus, making the song catchy enough.
The other guest is Dero Goi, a German musician who was the frontman of Oomph! between 1989 and 2021. He participates in the song “Dancing at Your Funeral” as a singer, co-producer, and co-writer. This can be considered more of a duet, where Dero and Kristell’s vocals collaborate excellently, and the song itself builds beautifully.
“Little Creatures” hits us without much preamble, showcasing Kristell’s grittier, more witchy vocals.
The rhythm guitar themes are excellently dark, the bass guitar is strong and distinctive, and the drums, played by Glen Welman, sound great. The songs are effectively saturated with melancholic, ominous, and dark elements, and the synth themes are well-executed. However, at times, Kristell’s voice feels overshadowed, as if it’s been pushed into the background during mixing. Additionally, the effects sometimes detract from the vocal themes, making it difficult to understand the lyrics.
Since the album’s concept isn’t exactly light-hearted, it doesn’t focus on catchy melodies but rather on creating a mood fitting for the theme.
Towards the end of the album, we hear string instruments, providing a beautiful and fitting conclusion to the record.
Overall, Lovelorn Dolls has returned with a very characteristic, well-crafted album. I sincerely hope they finally receive the attention they deserve, and their career takes an upward trajectory!
“Deadtime Stories” will be released on May 24, 2024, under the Alfa Matrix label. The production was handled by Maxx Maryan.
8/10
Tracklist:
01. One Upon A Time
02. A Heart Cries
03. Death & Glory (feat. VVitchboy)
04. Beautiful Chaos
05. Broken Dreams
06. Another Night On Earth
07. Dreamworld (dancing alone)
08. Dancing At Your Funeral (feat. Dero Goi)
09. Little Creatures
10. The Ghost On The Hill
11. Diary Of Nothing
12. The End
Vocals : Kristell Lowagie
Guitars & bass : Bernard Daubresse
Drums: Glen Welman
Mix & Master : Maxx Maryan (Helalyn Flowers, ImJudas)
Music : Lovelorn Dolls
Artworks : Lovelorn Dolls
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelorndolls
