Flowing Tears has often been described as a gothic metal band. But is
Razorbliss really gothic metal? Or is it simply goth rock that happens to be very guitar based (as opposed to all the heavily electronic goth rock that has been coming from both the United States and Europe)?
Razorbliss definitely rocks harder and more aggressively than, say,
Black Tape for a Blue Girl, although the presence of a loud, crunching guitar doesn't automatically mean metal any more than having a tenor sax automatically means jazz or having an acoustic guitar automatically means folk. But however one categorizes
Razorbliss -- gothic metal or simply goth rock -- this CD is a strong addition to
Flowing Tears' catalog.
Razorbliss is the German band's first album since the departure of former lead singer Stefanie Duchêne and the arrival of her replacement Helen Vogt, who fits in perfectly on darkly melodic items like "Virago" and "Ballad of a Lonely God." Duchêne's admirers were sorry to see her leave
Flowing Tears, and some of them had serious concerns about how well the band would function without her. But Vogt knows exactly what she's doing; she definitely rises to the occasion on
Razorbliss, and the fact that Vogt has a deep, rugged voice is a plus. In many cases. female goth singers have favored very clean, ethereal vocal styles -- an approach that has worked well for a lot of goth bands. But
Flowing Tears aren't afraid to stand out and be different, and Vogt -- much like Duchêne -- helps them accomplish that. While Vogt is her own person, she isn't a radical departure from her predecessor -- and she is clearly an asset to
Flowing Tears throughout this excellent album. ~ Alex Henderson