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Having made a determined step further into traditional prog territory with 2022’s single-track, 20-minute concept mini-album , Lesoir are perhaps keen to prevent any such labels sticking to them on . The Maastricht five-piece’s sixth album aims much more squarely for the arena rock jugular from the outset. They clearly mean business – they enlisted seasoned and producer John Cornfield as well as longtime associate Paul Reeve to work on this record.
They surely help accelerate into a high-octane, wind-in-the-hair singalong, with Maartje Meessen’s plaintive tones sometimes taking on the timbre of an or . The title track and have a booming, immersive swell to their sound, energised by stabs of Ingo Dassen’s metallic riffing. With bombastic strings and choral accompaniment joining the throng, at times veers close to symphonic metal territory – albeit without any attempt at soprano vocal gymnastics.
As Long As Your Girls Smile rides out on a thunderous Nightwish-style blast of turbocharged melancholy But then just when a pace break is needed, frames a wistful, moody lament with nervous, stuttering rhythms, before Meessen steps up the emotional ante again as yearning turns to something more passionate and angst-ridden. Better still for those who prefer a less linear approach to songwriting, the startlingly titled offers a vocal part-whispered, part-sung as Meessen sings, rather curiously of how ‘ .’ It makes for a more dramatic, edge-of-the-seat experience that seems all the more effective when they once again burst into pomp-rock flame, and the guitars howl at the moon towards its conclusion.
Lesoir’s versatility isn’t in doubt by this point, but they can’t resist a Wagnerian crescendo. Hence the ruminative instrumental is an easier listen at first, hung around a summery guitar figure, before once again the storm clouds gather. Their instinct is always to finish powerfully when possible.
That’s reflected in the flow of the album as a whole, and the final trifecta of tracks. ’s agitated vocal builds in strength to come out fighting, as a sonic squall grows around it. Following that, rides out on a thunderous -style blast of turbocharged melancholy.
Finally, the quiet/loud power ballad closes proceedings with a rush of emotional defiance. Broad strokes for the most part – but when they’re this skilfully applied, resistance is futile. Johnny is a regular contributor to and magazines, both online and in print.
Johnny is a highly experienced and versatile music writer whose tastes range from prog and hard rock to R’n’B, funk, folk and blues. He has written about music professionally for 30 years, surviving the Britpop wars at the in the 90s (under the hard-to-shake teenage nickname Johnny Cigarettes) before branching out to newspapers such as and and magazines such as and, of course, and . US prog duo Days Between Stations to release new album in November Opeth push back release of The Last Will & Testament to November 22 Here's how you can safely install or replace a turntable cartridge.
