URBAN TALES – Loneliness Still Is The Friend

A couple of years back, Diary Of A No, the debut release by Portuguese Goth Rockers, Urban Tales, showed a great deal of promise, and with the song “In Purity”, they had a bona fide classic in their repertoire.

Approaching the “difficult second album” is always a hurdle for any band to overcome, and while some bands succeed, many others have fallen at this stage. Fortunately for Urban Tales, they have taken the potential displayed on their first album and have built on those solid foundations to produce an accomplished collection of dark, melancholic, and hugely melodic Gothic-inspired Rock songs.

Musically, the heavier parts are heavier and the lighter parts are more delicate, and it is this contrast that gives the album real diversity and dynamics. Opener “Silent Cries” covers the whole range of emotions in a single song. “Crying” and “Stand Alone” soothe and caress while “Another Day” packs a real punch, yet retains a hook so sharp it’ll bury itself into your subconscious for days. “Fly Away” and “Celebrate Nothing”, with its “Dr. Feelgood” style riff are amongst the many highlights, perfectly encapsulating Urban Tales’ grasp of power, drama, and melody.

Lead singer Marcos Cesar manages to avoid the pitfalls of many of his peers, and rather than adopting the limited “Cookie Monster” style growls, he prefers to sing in a rich baritone style that evokes a mix of Japan’s David Sylvian and HIM’s Ville Valo. His emotive grasp of melody is the real strength of the band.

Urban Tales have taken a huge leap forward from their first album, and if they continue to grow and develop to the same extent over the coming years, then there’s no denying they will soon be heading to the next level and beyond.