The Faces of Sarah- Lament

ARTIST: The Faces of Sarah

ALBUM: Lament

LABEL: Malicious Damage Records

REVIEWER: Matthew J.

DATE: 6-20-07

UK goth band The Faces of Sarah recall the unabashed glamor and emotional melodrama of such classic acts as the Southern Death Cult and The Mission, for better or for worse. Fans used to the restraint of more modern acts might be turned off by the occasional guitar solos and prog rock keyboards of "If I Could I Would," but the comparatively lighter touch of driving power chords and atmospheric synths on "Sick and Tired" are hard to resist. Lead singer Nick Schultz is unafraid to wear his heart on his sleeve, and while he comes off as a bit mopey and petulant on "You Should Have Told Me," the heartbroken but intense rock vocals of "Where Were You" and "Nothing Remains" are every bit as good as Wayne Hussey in his heyday. "When the Mourning Comes" is as full as melancholy camp as you'd guess from its title, but it's beautifully done, with a sense of majesty that comes from its total lack of irony. Title track "Lament" finishes things off with a power ballad that owes as much to late '80s glam metal as early '80s goth, but again, it's performed perfectly, starting off with quiet pianos before building into a slow crescendo laced with showy guitar squeals. Check these guys out if you long for the days when "rock" was still the important side of the "gothic rock" equation.

Visit www.facesofsarah.com for more information.