Lorraine Cross
Army of Shadows

French newcomers Lorraine Cross are here with their debut album, one that is sharpshooting all the right targets to appeal to fans of the power- and speed metal fans. With a producer from Manigance one might think that there would be something exciting and fresh there, Manigance has a rather exciting sound but Lorraine Cross sounds like most any power- or speed metal band out there.

They have good sound and energy, decent songs and good production. They offer what the fans of the genre needs and maybe they ask us critics to go to hell as they don’t really offer anything a critic can look upon and praise – we don’t like when it sounds like everything else out there.

Sure it is good; sure it is enjoyable to listen to for a while. But the album feels a tad on the long side and I lose interest the longer I play it, it begins really well but ends in a rather anonymous fashion. That I am unimpressed might be exaggerating and unfair to the band but lets say that I am unimpressed by their creativity and rather pleased with listening to their songs.

I don’t really think that this is an album one needs to pay too much attention to, sure it isn’t one you’ll regret picking up but I seriously doubt it is one that anyone will name as a favourite. It works because it is a stereotype and a cliché and for some people that is enough but it will never really be good enough for me to sing its praises. Army of Shadows will remain in the shadows of the great names in the genre, as their debut is far too anonymous to make much of an impact.

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