This is the German band named Cerberus, formed in 1998. They play slow to mid paced melodic black metal, like old Hades with a bit of thrash and doom thrown in. Klagelieder – Grabesgesang is their second album and third release. They managed to release a live album before any studio material. The album contains eight songs and is 44 minutes in duration. They offer compositions more for background listening than for headbanging insanity. The music keeps your interest but lacks that something special that demands you drop what you are doing and experience the music. The song structure is fairly loose and therefore the songs tend to get old. “Drachenland” is a song to catch your breath on with a nice easy pace. The guitars are slow and steady with riffs that support the drums, which take center stage. “If Frozen Fire Falls” has growled and screamed vocals and several tempo changes, sometimes fast but not exceedingly so. The rest of the songs have a style about the same. This is a forgettable band with a cool logo. There is nothing bad here but they certainly do not pull themselves out of the middle of the pack. This is a band and album for completists but it is a band with some promise so check back next time. I must be a completist because I have the back catalog, and I intend to get the next one eas well.

[Visit the band's website]

---

Comments