Hoffnung

1. Mondfeuer (15:15)
2. Kaleidoskop (06:16)
3. Unterwelt (03:50)
4. Die unbekannte Farbe (05:35)
5. Der Kelch der Hoffnung (03:24)
6. Thunder and Lightning (03:55)
7. Tränen der Liebe (06:39)
8. Der freie Fall ? Apeiron, Part 1 (06:17)
9. Keine Schatten mehr (02:28)
10. Apeiron ? Der freie Fall, Part 2 (09:07)

Hoffnung (Speranza) is Lacrimosa's 12th album, released on November 6, 2015.

The hope and strength we cling to to overcome the toughest moments and emerge victorious, but Hoffnung - in fact - is also the latest opera by Lacrimosa, the duo formed by visionary Tilo Wolff and his companion Anne Nurmi. After the mediocre Revolution, Hoffnung presents itself as an album full of hopes: in fact, more than twenty years have passed since the first job, and a more inspired return to the German artist is hoped to approach the band's past masterpieces. So hoped we go for this trip in the company of the Lacrimosa.

The album opens with Mondfeuer, a song that with its fifteen minutes turns out to be a very courageous choice: despite the risk of boring from the beginning the listener with a suite of this size, the Lacrimosa are nevertheless able to distribute for the duration of the Track changes and growing, which have the merit of increasing the emotional tension. Monfeuer is therefore one of the most inspired songs of the disc, starting from its very early cinematic and orchestral start, moves between climaxes of impetuosity and moments more subtle and dreamy, until the appearance of the phrasing of the six strings that imposes itself as a bundle of Light in the darkness and preparing the entrance of other instruments and theatrical singing by Tilo Wolff.

Even the whole album, just like the first track, alternates with the most dynamic fragments, where the most canonical instruments in rock and metal take over, and other songs where this sensation of grandeur donated by an orchestra is maintained Of about sixty elements. The references to classical music are far from rare, although we are far from the most commercial symphonic metal: it is a solemnity composed and elegant, refined in the atmosphere.

Next to the opening song are the more energetic and rhythmical songs such as Kaileidoskop or Thunder And Lighting, where the subtle and vibrant voice of the Finnish Anne Nurmi, or even the most psychedelic Unterwelt, is heard, during which electronic elements that give the song A touch of madness. The passionate Die Unbekannte Farbe or the tiring Tränen Der Liebe leave room for the most romantic and evocative of the Lacrimosa, as well as their most classical vein, which is nevertheless disseminated for the entire duration of Hoffnung. After a sharper pause (Keine Shatten Mehr), Apeiron - Der Freie Fall, Part 2 has the task of closing the record with solemnity: the orchestra takes over again to leave space for guitar and drums, but they appear With a distorted sound, giving the trace a tense and diluted atmosphere.

So Hoffnung shows us a Tilo Wolff that is clearly inspired, not only in the songwriting, with his sung that whispers to almost shattered screams, but also from a compositional point of view. The Lacrimosa have once again succeeded in combining classical music with rock and metal with elegance and balance: the different sounds are mixed without forcing and without exceeding either the symphonic or the most energetic and lively side.

In conclusion, Hoffnung is definitely one step ahead of the latest releases and is approaching intensity and smoothness to other masterpieces of the band, while having partially abandoned the genius, Hoffnung also manifests itself as an emotional and passionate album aimed mostly at those who love Go beyond the purely musical aspect.

In the end, hope was well restored.