Flowing Tears
„Serpentine“
Gothic/Dark Rock. Female Fronted. CD. 2002. 

Following "Jade" (2000), the third and final album with Stefanie Duchêne was released in 2002. "Serpentine" is heavier than its predecessor, yet for me it's not gothic metal. It's polished goth/dark rock. Overall, the album thrives on Stefanie's voice, but musically it doesn't reach the level of "Jade." I find it endearing that her German accent occasionally shines through, just as it did on "Jade."

In the short intro, we hear what sounds like a jet taking off. "Starfish Ride (For A Million Dollar Handshake)" showcases all the strengths of Stefanie's voice. It's actually a really good song, if it weren't so repetitive. "Serpentine" has the same problem: a good song with lyrics that are too repetitive. Only Stefanie's voice saves the track. "Children Of The Sun" once again relies heavily on the vocals, with only the last verse offering any variety. So far, there's no real development compared to "Jade." "The Marching Sane" is the first truly good track for me. The lyrics are verse-chorus-verse. But it's the atmosphere that the song creates. And, I repeat, Stefanie's voice. "Breach" is the first more complex song, which is probably why I like it. "Portsall (Departure Song)" is calm, lyrically beautiful, very melancholic, and unfortunately far too short. "Justine" has a faster tempo and is appealing precisely because of the structure of the lyrics. "The Carnage People" then rocks quite well. At three minutes, it's just the right length. "Merlin" is slightly symphonic with whispered vocals. "Cupid of the Carrion Kind" is unfortunately too short, precisely because it stands out musically and vocally. It's my favorite song. Finally, "For Tonight" is a mediocre closer.

I can only partially agree with the many positive reviews of "Serpentine." While this album sounds more polished, I don't see any real development. All the songs depend on Stefanie's voice. And that's the only reason I keep listening to the whole album. On the positive side, I appreciate that "Serpentine" is cleanly produced by very good musicians. Nothing is drowned in excessive reverb, the keyboards are once again not overpowering, and the riffs sound full and rich.

Bass – Frédéric Lesny
Drums – Stefan Gemballa
Mastered By – Siggi Bemm
Guitar(s) – Benjamin Buss
Music By, Lyrics By – Flowing Tears
Producer, Engineer, Mixed By – Waldemar Sorychta
Vocals – Stefanie Duchêne

The photos are all from my CD. The rights to all motifs, logos, texts and fonts that can be seen in the photos are of course owned by the copyright holder.

No AI wased in the making of this Review.
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