Can you imagine Euro-metal sung by Gwen Stefani? I couldn't either until now. It sort of makes your stomach turn doesn't it? Well that's exactly what 'Vol. 4' sounds like. Musically it is somewhere between melodic ARCH ENEMY and LACUNA COIL, but devoid of any real imagination. There are some halfway decent riffs on this album, but when singer Tanja chimes in, she literally takes any balls away from the song. Most of the choruses seem culled from the Ashlee Simpson School of Singing. Ok, maybe not quite that bad but you get the point. Every track seems to follow the same formula: an opening riff, a boring wah lead line, a melodic break down into the opening vocals, riff, lame chorus...should I go on?

Lead guitarist Sami Vauhkonen is a competent player. He dishes out some great soloing throughout, but have you ever heard the old saying, "You can polish a turd, but it's still a turd”? The best lead guitar in the world wouldn't help this album out. The best song on the record, “Soul in Half" is somewhat interesting, dark and melodic. Even the vocals are even somewhat tolerable, but then you realize that the melody line is lifted almost directly from LACUNA COIL's "1.19". Nice try. The next track, "Killing Time" started out with potential until Tanja opened her mouth and knocked the legs out from under it. At least she is consistent. Who would listen to this band? Maybe some teenage girl who listens to NO DOUBT and occasionally wants to rock....sort of.

- Peters

OFFICIAL SITE: www.lullacry.com

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