ADifferentShadeOfBlackMetalZine: Lagrima

Showing posts with label Lagrima. Show all posts

Thursday, April 12, 2018

Lagrima/Gilgamesh (The Quest For Immortality)/2018 Full Length Review

Lagrima are a duo from Lebanon that has been featured before in this zine and plays a melodic mixture of black and death metal and this is a review of their self released 2018 album "Gilgamesh (The Quest For Immortality)".

A very heavy and melodic sound starts off the album while acoustic and classical guitars are also added onto some of the tracks along with the vocals being a mixture of death metal growls and black metal screams as well as the solos and leads also using a great amount of melody and some of the tracks are very long and epic in length.

When the music speeds up a great amount of blast beats can be heard while the songs also bring in a great mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts along with all of the musical instruments having a very powerful sound to them and the music brings in a great amount of 90's influences along with some elements of traditional and thrash metal.

Some of the fast riffing also brings in a decent amount of tremolo picking while piano's when they are used briefly bring elements of classical music onto the recording but also keeping the main focus on a heavier style along with some of the tracks being instrumentals before return back to vocal songs as well as the drum beats being all programmed and spoken word parts can also be heard briefly.

On this recording Lagrima takes their melodic mixture of black and death metal into a heavier direction while also keeping the acoustic parts, the production sounds very professional for being a self released recording while the lyrics are a concept album based upon 'The Epic Of Gilgamesh".

In my opinion this is another great sounding recording from Lagrima and if you are a fan of melodic black and death metal, you should check out this album. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "The Rival Creation (Enkidu)" "At The End Of Enkidu Comes" and "The Great Deluge". 8/5 out of 10.

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Lagrima Interview

1. Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band these days?

Tarek Yazbek: Currently we are preparing to record our second full album, which also going to be a concept album based on ancient Middle Eastern mythology.

We are also recruiting new members to the band so we can have a complete line up for live shows.

2. For those who have not heard the music can you tell us about your musical sound?

Tarek Yazbek: Well, our musical style is a mixture of many metal styles combined into one unique fresh sound. That should make people who like different metal genre get interest in our music. We also include in our sound lots of classical guitar influences, even classical music compositions in our intros adding even more diversity and interest to our music.

3. On your first album you had lyrics written about The Punic Wars, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in ancient history?

Tarek Yazbek: My Interest in ancient history started at an early age when I was still school. It just got me hooked in, just the idea about ancient civilization, their culture and religion was very intriguing for me. Also it tell us how things became the way they are now. It is also an original subject to use on metal albums as themes and lyrics, which can give more depth to your music.

4. I have read that you have a new album in the works that is going to be based on the Epic of Gilgamesh, how would you describe your interests in Mythology?

Tarek Yazbek: Mythology is what the ancients had left for us to tell how they viewed the world around them from a religious point of view, a way put in Symbolism. Even some Mythologies are Historical facts that got exaggerated by time, or where symbolized to be taught to the next generations. If you compare the religious texts to the mythological Texts you will be surprised how much similarities you will find, but the meanings have changed, although the symbolic factors are left the same. All these factors have pulled me closer and closer to the mythologies of this region.

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Tarek Yazbek; currently we are only 2 members in the band, but we are recruiting new members so we can do live shows hopefully.

6. Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

Tarek Yazbek: not at the current time, and not sure about the future since it’s hard to get a band from the middle east to play in Europe. But all options are open.

7. Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

Tarek Yazbek: We actually got 1 label interested, but things didn’t work out because they wanted us pay tons of money and they also will get some decent payment from sales. It was just ridiculous offer. For the next album we will try to check out some labels and we’ll see what would happen. Hopefully something would work out, because a label can get you the exposure you need.

8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black and death metal?

Tarek Yazbek: Well we got a lot of positive feedback and reviews, but you can’t satisfy everybody as you know. We hope with this second release we can reach more people and open more eyes on our music.

9. What can we expect musically once the new album is released?

Tarek Yazbek: The new album will be more mature than previous one with better production and quality. Musically we are still going on in the same direction but of course its not gonna be a carbon copy of the first album and it will have its own flavor with the Lagrima signature. Also the band vocalist “Bilal Al-Aghar” has contributed very effectively on the music of the album adding his own touch to the band’s sound. I guess this album will leave a big effect on the fans and will get us new fans as well.

10. What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Tarek Yazbek: I personally had a lot of bands and music styles that influenced the way I write music, especially in the death/black realm. For example bands like At the Gates, Hypocrisy, Dark Tranquility, Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth, Death, Old Man’s Child ect… to name some. Nowadays there are bands like Kalmah and Opeth which are new influence for me and I try to learn from them. Also am interested in finding and listening to underground metal bands, and lots of them have some great music to offer but didn’t have the chance to get the attention they really deserve.

Other than metal, I really enjoy classic guitar music and I even play that type of music which I try to include in the band’s music to give it that unique touch to makes us a little different than the other band’s out there.

11. What are some of your non musical interests?

Tarek Yazbek: Music and sports are my two major hobbies in life and travelling also. I used to play a lot of soccer in the past but because of work and smoking I haven’t been able enjoy this sport any more, but I still do some body building to keep fit. As for travelling I go like once a year to a different country each time with the wife and enjoy our vacation and just relax.

12. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Tarek Yazbek: Well finally I like to thank you for this opportunity and wonderful interview, hope the fans would enjoy it. As I mentioned earlier we have a new album that we will release, most probably at the end of this year, hope it will have a positive impact on metal fans around the world.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Lagrima/Hannibal Ad Portas/2012 Full Length Review

Lagrima are a band from Lebanon that plays a melodic mixture of black and death metal along with some elements of neo classical and this is a review of his self released 2012 album "Hannibal Ad Portas".

Atmospheric and epic sounding synths start off the album and they bring a classical music flavor to the recording and after the intro classical guitars are added into the music which leads up to a fast and melodic black metal direction along with blast beats and high pitched screams and after awhile solos and leads become a huge part of the musical sound on the album.

A good portion of the songs are long and epic in length and after awhile death metal growls and a mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts are added into the music along with solos that utilize a great amount of talent and skill and acoustic guitars also finding their way into the heavier tracks which also gives the music a more progressive feeling.

Elements of thrash metal can be heard in the guitar riffing at times and all of the musical instruments have a very powerful sound to them as well as the leads incorporating some traces of traditional metal and as the album progresses clean singing vocals can be heard at times while the main focus is on the black metal vocals which also get very grim and depressive on some of the tracks and towards the end of the recording you can also hear a mixture of instrumental acoustic and heavy vocal songs along with some elements of Middle Eastern music bring added into the guitar riffing.

Lagrima creates a very original sound to his melodic mixture of black and death metal which also sees him adding in elements of thrash, classical and Middle Eastern music along with some solos that display a great amount of talent and skill, the production sounds very professional for being a self released recording while the lyrics are a concept album based on the Carthiginen general Hannibal Barca and his war with the Romans which where historically known as the Punic Wars or more accurately The Second Punic War.

In my opinion Lagrima are a very great sounding melodic mixture of black and death metal and neo classical and if you are a fan of those musical genre, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Serenade Upon Mount Aryx" "Arise And Arrest the Destiny Of Rome" and "A Final Fight". 8/5 out of 10.