Tenebre Hearts Blood
Regain Records RR 082 07.11.05
By Anna Novitzky
Goth these days isnt what it used to be. The kids just dont have the right sombre, navel-gazing attitude. I should know, Im one of the symptoms one of those pansy fake goths who likes metal and smiles sometimes, and has never even been near the Batcave. Pff, wannabe. Tenebre, on the other hand, are the real, poet-shirted, clove-cigarette-smoking deal, or they very much wish they were.
Hearts Blood is one long melancholy lament. With heavy bass, dirge-like guitars, deep vocals and those strangely up-beat electronica-style keyboards you get in lots of goth rock, they work hard to convey the futility and pain of existence, especially that bit of it where no one gets you. One gloomy track segues seamlessly into the next in a listless fug of despondency; its like Type O Negative without the distinctive bass-baritone or the sense of humour, or Sisters of Mercy without whatever it was that made them good. The occasional song, such as title-track Hearts Blood, has a more intense, raw edge, but for the most part Tenebre come off as competent but unoriginal peddlers of goth in its most monotonous form.
Hearts Blood has its moments, but they are mostly subsumed into the general morass of misery. Ive got nothing against depressing music heaven knows Ive spent enough time in clubs listening to it but it has to have a certain spark of originality that Tenebre dont seem to have found. Or maybe its just that I dont understand the darkness in their souls.
4/10
Tenebre's Official Website
Regain Records Official Website
Regain Records RR 082 07.11.05
By Anna Novitzky
Goth these days isnt what it used to be. The kids just dont have the right sombre, navel-gazing attitude. I should know, Im one of the symptoms one of those pansy fake goths who likes metal and smiles sometimes, and has never even been near the Batcave. Pff, wannabe. Tenebre, on the other hand, are the real, poet-shirted, clove-cigarette-smoking deal, or they very much wish they were.
Hearts Blood is one long melancholy lament. With heavy bass, dirge-like guitars, deep vocals and those strangely up-beat electronica-style keyboards you get in lots of goth rock, they work hard to convey the futility and pain of existence, especially that bit of it where no one gets you. One gloomy track segues seamlessly into the next in a listless fug of despondency; its like Type O Negative without the distinctive bass-baritone or the sense of humour, or Sisters of Mercy without whatever it was that made them good. The occasional song, such as title-track Hearts Blood, has a more intense, raw edge, but for the most part Tenebre come off as competent but unoriginal peddlers of goth in its most monotonous form.
Hearts Blood has its moments, but they are mostly subsumed into the general morass of misery. Ive got nothing against depressing music heaven knows Ive spent enough time in clubs listening to it but it has to have a certain spark of originality that Tenebre dont seem to have found. Or maybe its just that I dont understand the darkness in their souls.
4/10
Tenebre's Official Website
Regain Records Official Website
