• Darth01 Sep 2015 Krypteria - All Beauty Must Die

    Depending on the country in which we live, “My Fatal Kiss”, Krypteria third album of the group, was released in August 2009 or, as in France, in March 2010. So, depending on the country, it is only one or more than one year after that comes out the new album of the Germans and their Korean singer. Indeed, ten years after its inception, the band released their fourth album, “All Beauty Must Die”.

    Line-up:

    • Ji-In Cho - vocals & piano
    • Tobbias “Eggi” Exxel - guitar
    • Chris Siemons - guitars
    • Frank Stumvoll - bass
    • S.C. Kuschnerus - drums

    Tracklist:

    1. Messiah
    2. As I Slowly Bleed
    3. Fly Away With Me
    4. You Killed Me
    5. Live To Fight Another Day
    6. Eyes Of A Stranger
    7. Thanks For Nothing
    8. Turn The World Around
    9. Higher
    10. Victoria
    11. How Can Something So Good Hurt So Bad
    12. The Eye Collector
    13. Get The Hell Out Of My Way 2011 (Bonus Track)
    14. Liberatio 2011 (Bonus Track)
    15. Come Hell Or High Water (Bonus Track)

    If the change is of rigor for the cover, with a more heavy metal in aesthetics that take us away from the gothic atmosphere created on the previous album, what about the music? Well, Krypteria continues its merry way in strengthening the metal side of its compositions. And it starts dry with “Messiah”, which can recall what the group has done in the past, but the guitars are a little sharper than before. And if on most of the titles that strengthening arises, there is also a wide variety in the album: both in the intro than with the guitars sounds or the moods of the songs. For example, “As I Slowly Bleed” sees arpeggios on the intro and verses, while at the chorus; the guitar takes more power, supported by a battery really present. The dynamics is quite different on the next song which is musically more powerful on the verses and a chorus more “all-purpose” or accessible, a chorus for a single even if it is not the title that was chosen for that. And we change again with “You Killed Me”. We find a structure that the band has already used, but with more vocals than on the previous titles, and even use different instruments. As for “Live To Fight Another Day”, this is a pretty catchy title, also cut to be a single and sees the first solo album to be executed.

    And it continues like this throughout the album. “Higher” sees Tobbias “Eggi” Exxel and his guitar come and give a little bit of heat, and a solo winded but without being disagreeable, and who also, surprisingly, still highlight the eclectic side this album that we gradually notice as we listen. And “The Eye Collector”, in addition to being the longest track of the band’s career, start with a haunting rhythm, which could be slightly consider doom, which have a dense atmosphere which is really accentuated even when we start in a more heavy register. A truly surprising title, with the insertion of a portion of a known classical piece (but we will not give the title, keep the surprises!), but especially with the male voice put forward at the beginning, then choirs that are much more bass than usual, which may seem going in all directions but with a very interesting experimental side.

    If musically we have a lot of variations, while still remaining in the same register in the album, it is therefore quite consistent vocally, the surprise does not come necessarily from Ji-In Cho, who remains faithful to herself. A dynamic voice, which softens the ballad of the album… “Hurt So Bad”, which certainly is a song which shows that Krypteria is interested in all facets of the genre, but that was not essential, losing some intensity to the album. Of course, this contrast because of the acoustic side, but clichés are all too present. And the most regrettable is perhaps the fact that it’s located between the two most significant tracks of this album.

    The choirs either have not changed much, still high, used for intros or refrains coming providing some additional power or small ounce of clichés (use on “Turn The World Around”, for example). The surprise is rather additional voices and in particular on the song mentioned above. Indeed, on “Turn The World Around”, a fairly aggressive male voice is heard. Krypteria takes the risk of pleasing or displeasing, but after several listening, we can recognize that they have done well and it brings another dimension to the song, a side more powerful. But the duo which is really expected is on “Victoria”. Why? Because the metal queen come sings along; the voice of Ji-In Cho and the one of Doro go very well together for the title which have the most catchy chorus of the album. The track is the more traditional, but very pleasant. One of the highlight of the album!

    Krypteria continues his journey, strengthens its metal side, taking risks, and succeed with its fourth album. Changes are heard without making the listener or fan feel lost. “All Beauty Must Die” is an album that stands out from what came out that year, that does not avoid all the clichés but allows Krypteria to take a little more out of the game!

    Highlights:Live To Fight Another Day, Victoria, The Eye Collector