The Diarist - Dark Lunacy

Dark Lunacy's most recent offering is less instantly satisfying than their classic 'Forget Me Not,' but perhaps offers even more in the long run, or to the more discerning listener. With its lyrical focus on Russia during the Second World War, the album creates a moving and exceptional atmosphere, though this time the death metal elements occasionally seem to intrude on this rather than enhance it, especially as the most effective songs are those such as 'Snowdrifts' and 'On Memory's White Sleigh,' which tone down the harshness to feature a greater emphasis on the classical. The performances here are all exceptional, but the complete absence of violins is ...