IN MY ROSARY – 15

This is the first release of the German record label Syborgmusic to be featured on Metal Express Radio. The main reason for that is probably that Syborgmusic is not predominantly a Metal label, but specializes in a mixture of Dark Wave, Gothic, Electro, and Alternative Rock. At least two out of those four styles touch the Metal Express Radio musical spectrum, and since Metal frays out into different other genres in any direction possible, it is more than justified to pay a visit to one of those anabranches of the metallic river. Especially when the album in question is as entertaining as this one.

In My Rosary are from Karlsruhe, Germany, and 15 marks not only the fifteenth year of existence for the band, but is also the twelfth studio recording. Originally founded as a studio project, the two musicians Ralf Jesek (all instruments, programming and vocals) and singer Dirk Lakomy just extended the life of their project from one album to the next, until one and a half decades have passed and the term project hardly seems to fit anymore.

In My Rosary’s new work is an album which is rather difficult to characterize. While some typical elements of the above styles are repeatedly obvious, the songs differentiate in composition and mood considerably. After a simple, atmospheric intro, which already makes sure no one can mistake this album for a Metal CD, the song ”Bitterfall” sets a good example of what is to be expected over the course of the remaining 17 songs (including three remixes of older compositions). The main instruments are not distorted guitars and aggressive drumming, but synthesizer and acoustic guitar sounds. The latter are more dominant in the second half of the album, giving it some Alternative Folk flair, while 80’s Dark Wave and Electro-Pop are the godfathers of the first tracks. Metal Express Radio readers will have noticed that not so long ago another album was built on a similar foundation, Ascension Of The Watchers’ Numinosum (see here). This gives the opportunity to compare the two releases, because where Ascension Of The Watchers failed to excite, In My Rosary succeeds and lets even fans of harder music enjoy a trip into melancholy and romantic sounds. Instead of dragging on for many minutes like on Numinosum, In My Rosary’s songs are short, sometimes even on the brink of being too short, and more than once the listener may repeat a track to fathom all aspects of the minimalistic, but skillfully and effectively arranged compositions before continuing with the album. The order of the songs also induces interest as contrasts dominate as much as possible within Jesek’s and Lakomy’s boundaries of preferred styles. Slow, moody tunes alternate with danceable Dark Pop songs, of which several deserve to be spun in Goth and Wave dance clubs repeatedly. But, the contrasts may also mean that many listeners will not like all tracks equally, and it is quite possible that Metal Express Radio readers may only put on a few tracks of 15 occasionally, but the album will surely leave no open minded music lover emotionally untouched.

Unfortuantely, within the 19 songs, a few tracks must be called fillers. “Up” is too strange, and “Soul Tide” does not catch the listener’s emotion like other songs do. “Counting Clouds” is a bit too Poppy and from a Metalfan’s point of view, the three remixes at the end of the album are superfluous.

The album has – not surprisingly – a good helping of ballads. For Metalfans, it is recommended to give the non-ballad tracks a try to determine if this is an album one would enjoy: Electro-Goth like “Believe/Because,” Dark Pop like “G.T.,” Dark Wave of the very peculiar kind like “Gezeiten,” and 80’s Pop/Wave like “Uniforms.” The last one is also featured on the band’s MySpace site.

To sum up the style, and to give a rough indication if this is for you (or a waste of your time): You may like this if you can stand a bit of Human League and The Coalminer’s Beat, Clan Of Xymox, The Cure, Anne Clark, and Bauhaus.