Lullacry

Vol. 4 (Century Media)
by Scott Hefflon

Part Heart power ballad, part Mötley Crüe “Kickstart my Heart” wild-eyed shot-pounder, Lullacry have nabbed my attention ever since Spinefarm found ’em in 2001 and Century Media was wise enough to import ’em to an otherwise rock-starved America. Fuck The Donnas and Sahara Hotpants, Lullacry hand Lita Ford her ass, and cock rock side by side with Backyard Babies and Poisonblack.

If you thought stripper rock was dead, you haven’t been paying attention to Finland and, er, that general area (sorry, I’m geographically impaired). While the masses seem to’ve caught onto the Good Charlotte of the genre, HIM, it’s not like it begins and ends with them, ya know? But maybe the singer is really cute, or something equally important to the quality of the music…

With this, their fourth full-length, I now have two CDs worth of Lullacry tunes I love. Consistently, about half the songs per release drone on and on, like a soothing lullaby, I guess, but they bore me to tears. The other half, however, smoke Lacuna Coil and Bif Naked at their own games, and draw me in more than Nightwish or Theatre of Tragedy have ever managed to. Production is wild metal (Children of Bodom is from Finland, and built it up on Spinefarm as well), and often as layered as freakin’ Blind Guardian. So roomfuls of bitchy/cooing angels, muscle car guitar chugs shredded by Zakkish squawks and squeals, and scantily-clad metal chicks pole-dancing in periphery, what’s not to love?
(www.centurymedia.com)