LYKAION – Heavy Lullabies
- by Matt Coe
- Posted on 22-03-2015
These Italians perform a brand of metal that can be described in numerous ways: dark metal, melodic gothic metal, even hinting at a bit of the sleaze/hard rock scene of the 1980’s. "Heavy Lullabies" is their second full-length, an 11 song platter that has a lot of those melancholic refrains and hooks that made Sentenced an important part of the scene – yet not being afraid to incorporate a little bit more uplifting tempos and guitar hooks. Certain tempos border on the modern fence, the type with staccato guitar parts and equally easy going rhythms, but somehow on "Waitin’" the quick picking exotic undercurrent keeps Lykaion into a fervent atmospheric platform while "End of Time" contains some measure ending squeals that veer too close to Pantera territory.
Some of the drumming tones appear to be a little too computer triggered for my liking, but overall "Heavy Lullabies" has a heavier presence on some of the lead breaks (check out "Out of My Heart" from some upper tap twin harmony action) and the good outweighs the bad for me. This is dark, melodic gothic metal that has broad appeal.